Extensive surveying of the Great Barrier Reef has laid bare the devastating impact of its worst coral bleaching event on record, with only seven per cent remaining untouched.
Scientists on Wednesday released the results of aerial and underwater inspections of 911 individual reefs in the 2300km-long natural wonder and said some parts were so badly damaged they would "never be the same".
The worst-affected area, according to Professor Terry Hughes, convenor of the National Coral Bleaching Taskforce, was the formerly-pristine 1000km stretch north of Port Douglas.
There, 80 per cent of the 522 reefs surveyed were severely bleached and mortality predictions were dire.
"What the underwater survey is showing is that already, close to half the corals north of Port Douglas are dead or dying," Prof Hughes told AAP.
"That's our minimum estimate of mortality."
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt admitted the bleaching was "major and significant".
"The event is still unfolding and the full extent and severity of bleaching may take several weeks to manifest," he said.
Mr Hunt pointed to the government's efforts to keep the reef off the World Heritage Committee's "in danger" list and its long-term Reef 2050 plan as proof of its commitment to addressing the problem.
But he did not say additional funding would be considered for reef rehabilitation.
The government previously argued the reef should not be listed as in danger because of the state of the northern region - which is now worst-affected by bleaching.
Prof Hughes said in areas further south the picture was not as bleak and some parts will recover - findings Daniel Gschwind, from the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, was keen to highlight.
"Impacts on the reef and bleaching of the reef is a complex story to tell," he said.
Mr Gschwind feared there was a risk of collateral damage to reef tourism's annual $5 billion income if the situation was inaccurately reported.
Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles demanded an urgent meeting of his interstate counterparts be convened to discuss climate change.
But some key tourism sites off Cairns were as "vibrant and beautiful as ever", he added.
"This is some bright news in an otherwise distressing event," Dr Miles told parliament.
Conservation groups, including WWF Australia and Greenpeace, labelled the bleaching as a "national tragedy" and pleaded with the government to put the brakes on the coal industry.
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