Great Barrier Reef at risk of 'collapse', scientists warn

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is at severe risk of "ecosystem collapse" and widespread bleaching, scientists warned Tuesday, directly linking the threat to the current El Nino weather phenomenon. The reef, a vast 2,300km-long natural wonder and major tourist attraction, has already suffered significant coral cover decline in recent years.

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It's not outside of the realm of possibility that the next major disturbance will lead to localised species extinctions ... and widespread ecosystem collapse.

Marine conservation ecologist Morgan Pratchett of James Cook University stated that the "extreme El Nino" poses a significant concern, suggesting that "localized species extinctions" and "widespread ecosystem collapse" are possibilities following the next major disturbance. This year's El Nino is noted for its exceptional strength, impacting global weather patterns.

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It's a very high likelihood that we'll see very high severity and large-scale mass bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.

This warning comes as the reef narrowly avoided an endangered listing, despite the United Nations expressing "utmost concern" over coral bleaching and climate change impacts. The reef has endured six mass coral bleaching events since 2016, exacerbated by factors including extreme weather, pollution, coastal development, and starfish predation.

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This could be the precursor to the loss of humans.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from the University of Queensland criticized the insufficient government response, drawing a stark analogy to passengers ignoring a sinking Titanic. He stressed the urgent need for action, stating, "The ship is starting to sink in a really massive way, and we're not seeing it as what it is." He emphasized the gravity of the situation, calling it "so serious."

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If you were on a big boat, like the Titanic, and someone comes up to you and says the boat's going down, you bloody well get on those lifeboats and start acting and do stuff. We're not doing that. The ship is starting to sink in a really massive way, and we're not seeing it as what it is. It is so serious.