Australia is renowned for its natural wonders, with the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, rightfully recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its vibrant biodiversity makes it a haven for divers.
However, a less-known record breaker lies on the opposite side of the country, along Australia’s northwestern coast: Ningaloo Reef.
Located a 14-hour drive north of Perth, Ningaloo is a unique ecosystem. As the world’s largest fringing reef and another of Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it boasts a thriving oceanic forest that stretches for hundreds of kilometers along the coast.
From the region’s secluded desert beaches, visitors can easily access turquoise waters and snorkel in a seascape celebrated for its vibrant corals and diverse wildlife, including manta rays, reef sharks, and whale sharks.
This year, however, Ningaloo Reef is facing significant challenges. A marine heatwave has caused higher water temperatures, stressing the corals and leading to ‘bleaching,’ where they turn white. While some corals may recover, the damage has deeply concerned scientists.
Moreover, the heatwave has resulted in another, more alarming record: this marks the first instance of simultaneous bleaching on both Australia’s western and eastern coasts.
“It’s akin to a raging underwater bushfire that has persisted for months, causing harm along the coast,” explains Paul Gamblin, who leads the Australian Marine Conservation Society. “This is an absolutely devastating event, and people are reeling from it. It’s immense, unprecedented, and certainly not normal.”
The marine heatwave impacting Ningaloo originated in the Caribbean in 2023, before traversing the Indo-Pacific and damaging coral reefs in its path. While the Great Barrier Reef experienced bleaching in 2024, Ningaloo was spared. However, by late 2024 and early 2025 – peak summer – temperatures surged in Western Australia.
This phenomenon is part of the fourth global bleaching event, which experts say has affected over 80% of the world’s coral reefs.
Dr. Kate Quigley, principal research scientist at the Minderoo Foundation, likens the effect to a stomach bug.
“Instead of bacteria in the human gut, corals host tiny algal symbionts within their cells that facilitate biological processes,” she explains, noting that these algae provide the corals with their color. When water temperatures rise excessively, this relationship breaks down, initiating bleaching.
“Similar to how a stomach bug impairs human bodily functions, the warm water disrupts the biological processes inside the coral,” she elaborates. “Just as humans become ill, corals also suffer.”
Dr. Quigley is particularly concerned about the prolonged warming observed by scientists. They had anticipated temperatures to decrease by April as the summer peak subsided, but this did not occur.
“In past warming events, water temperatures might have increased temporarily before returning to normal, allowing the corals to recover,” Dr. Quigley explains. “But our greatest fear, especially in the coming months, is the prospect of widespread coral death.”
While government scientists are monitoring the reef, considerable knowledge gaps remain.
“The natural world is incredibly dynamic, and we are sometimes surprised by what we observe, as it doesn’t always conform to expectations,” notes Dr. Tom Holmes, the Marine Science Programme Leader at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in Western Australia.
Dr. Holmes and his team are conducting follow-up surveys three to six months after the bleaching to assess the extent of coral mortality.
“There are records of corals remaining in a bleached state for extended periods and still surviving,” he says. “So, we must now wait and observe.”
Ningaloo attracts approximately 200,000 tourists annually. However, for swimmers and divers, the damage is evident.
“It felt like snorkeling on a corpse,” says Jenna-Rae Clark, a British-South African tourist who recently explored Ningaloo’s coastline. “It was so gray and lifeless. You often hear fish feeding on the coral, but there was nothing.”
Residents also fear that tourists will lose interest in Ningaloo.
“People have been devastated since summer, and many have expressed their sorrow and dismay upon witnessing the ocean’s condition,” says Sara Morgillo, who relocated from Perth to dive and work in conservation.
“There are still incredible sections of the reef worth exploring, and we continue to offer daily dive tours,” she adds.
“It’s crucial to witness the ongoing changes and understand the impact of the marine heatwave.”
Scientists concur that rising carbon emissions are the primary driver of this heatwave, leading to the warming of the planet and its oceans. According to NASA, the ocean absorbs 90% of global warming, and the past decade has been the warmest since the 1800s. Last year was the warmest on record.
These troubling records threaten Australia’s iconic landmarks. However, a domestic issue also contributes to the problem.
Located just up the coast from Ningaloo is the North West Shelf gas plant, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel projects. In May, the Australian government approved Woodside, the project’s operator, to continue operations until 2070.
The same company is also seeking approval to develop Australia’s largest untapped gas reserves in the Browse Basin, further up the coast.
While these projects alone do not cause the heat damaging Ningaloo, they symbolize the conflicting interests in Western Australia, where the gas industry is a more significant economic driver than tourism.
“The Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo are sources of immense wonder, comparable to Antarctica, the Serengeti, or the Amazon,” says Paul Gamblin of the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
“The contrast is staggering: at a time when Ningaloo and similar places are clearly suffering the consequences of climate change, the government is even considering opening new fossil fuel projects. This should not happen, and governments must draw a line in the sand and commit to preventing further deterioration.”
While the broader debate on fossil fuel use continues, scientists are working to better understand the reef to aid its recovery.
Dr. Chris Roelfsema and his team at the University of Queensland are mapping Ningaloo by capturing images of corals and integrating them with drone imagery to monitor their health more effectively.
“People often ask what they can do. First, support politicians who prioritize reducing fossil fuels and promote renewable energies,” says Dr. Roelfsema. “Your vote influences politicians. Additionally, reduce driving, use public transport, and limit air conditioning use – all these actions can help reduce our environmental footprint.”
Laboratory research is also underway. Dr. Quigley and her team at Minderoo are selectively breeding coral combinations to identify those most tolerant to higher temperatures.
“We collect fertilized eggs from various genetic backgrounds and raise them over several days until they develop into coral babies and teenagers,” she explains. “Like butterflies, corals undergo different metamorphoses and stages.”
By testing these corals, researchers can determine which are more resistant to elevated temperatures and potentially reintroduce them into the water.
While Dr. Quigley has implemented this technique on the Great Barrier Reef, it is in its early stages at Ningaloo, and she acknowledges that the method is not ideal.
“Scaling this approach for all reefs globally would be challenging,” she concedes. “Addressing the root cause, which is emissions, is crucial for the long-term survival of coral reefs.”
Considered by critics as merely a temporary fix, there is pressure for authorities to take more substantial action. Dr. Quigley revisits the bushfire analogy.
“Interestingly, when bushfires occur in Australia, authorities respond swiftly and extensively,” she says. “This level of response is not seen for coral reefs in Australia.”
This disparity may stem from the fact that corals, rather than people, are at risk. After all, there are no homes in the path of the underwater bushfire.
Experts, however, warn that such a perspective is shortsighted. Coral reefs support 25% of all marine life and also provide crucial benefits to humans.
“They are teeming with nature and biodiversity, supporting creatures from the smallest to the largest,” says Paul Gamblin. “They also sustain the livelihoods of millions worldwide and protect coasts from storm surges and extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. They offer enormous services to the planet.”
These services are often overlooked by those above the surface. As fossil fuels continue to warm the planet, life in the oceans is feeling the heat.
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