Marine Heatwaves and Ningaloo Reef Coral Bleaching

Since around September 2024, ocean temperatures have spiked intensely both on surface level and underwater. This has negatively impacted several important ecosystems, as well as causing extensive coral bleaching on Ningaloo Reef. These heatwaves have been a lot hotter than the last La Nina heatwaves in 2011, however there is a possibility of them cooling down as we go into the colder months. The full extent of the damage is currently unknown as it’s too soon to say.

Fiona Bartholomaeus chats with PhD Candidate Kelly Boden-Haws about the recent marine heatwaves on On the Record on Wednesday 26 February.