As coral reefs are wiped out from bleaching, this one brings hope

A coral reef in the Abrolhos Islands, off the coast of Geraldton, withstood exposure to extreme heat, researchers have found.

As coral reefs are wiped out from bleaching, this one brings hope. In short: Scientists have been researching how a section of coral reef off the coast of Western Australia has been able to withstand an extreme heatwave. In 2025 a severe warming event bleached much of the Ningaloo reef. What's next? Research fellow Kate Quigley said studying coral at the Abrolhos Islands could help protect other reefs from future bleaching events. Scientists have discovered a coral reef off Western Australia remained shockingly unscathed by a record marine heatwave that turned much of the Ningaloo reef white last year. The reef at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, 60 kilometres off the coast of Geraldton, was found to have withstood the 2025 warming event that impacted half of the state's coastline. The James Cook University scientists said the discovery prov...