Australia's Great Barrier Reef lost nearly a third of its corals in the
past year, officials have said.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40094160

Coral "bleaching" has led to widespread coral decline and habitat loss
on the world's largest coral reef system.

Surveys show that 29% of corals died in 2016, greater than the figure of
22% projected in mid-2016.

The worst-hit area was near Port Douglas, where 70% of shallow water
corals died, but there was a recovery of corals in the south of the reef.

The latest results come from surveys carried out by the Marine Park
Authority, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Australian Institute
of Marine Science and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chairman Russell Reichelt said:
"As has been the case with reefs across the world, the Great Barrier
Reef has experienced significant and widespread impacts over the last
two years.

"We're very concerned about what this means for the Great Barrier Reef
itself and what it means for the communities and industries that depend
on it."


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