More Bad News: Rattray Island Bleaching Impacts.

I’ve posted previously about the slow recovery of reefs on Rattray Island after being severely damaged by Cyclone Debbie. Recovery is still almost non-existent over three years after the cyclone and now the remaining corals have suffered a further setback with bad coral bleaching caused by the warm summer water temperatures. Most of the bleached corals are still surviving but some have partially died. The water temperatures have now dropped but are still 28°C. Those corals that are still alive may slowly recover but their health will be affected for some time to come.

Very few new corals are growing on the damaged reefs around Rattray Is.

Most of the damaged reef is still bare with only one or two new corals appearing after more than three years.

A single new Acropora coral is growing on this dead coral colony

A damaged Porites coral colony has now been badly bleached

This Porites colony was toppled and damaged by Cyclone Debbie and is now partially bleached

The huge Porites colony that was turned on its side by Debbie has fortunately only been slightly bleached

This Diploastrea colony has been partially bleached and is pale orange instead of dark brown

Most of the Millepora fire corals that were starting to regrow after the cyclone have been badly bleached

Another badly bleached Porites colony. These white colonies are still alive and may recover