SURG members are currently undertaking emergency surveys to assess the worst coral bleaching ever seen off the Coffs Coast. Water temperatures as high as 27.5 degrees were registered at South Solitary Marine Park in March, causing widespread bleaching on corals growing as deep as 20m.
The surveys complement the research project, Health of coral communities in the Solitary Islands Marine Park (2012 – 2015), and are being conducted at the same locations, using the same methodology.
The first of the emergency surveys was conducted by eleven SURG volunteers on the 2nd and 3rd of April at South, Split, North Solitary Islands. Weather conditions prevented surveys at North West Solitary. A total of 22 transects were laid with a minimum of 1100 individual corals surveyed.
The surveys found South Solitary Island the most severely effected with 100% of the Pocilloporid corals, which dominate the island, bleached and 60% of branching corals displaying tissue death. The western side of North Solitary Island also showed severe bleaching of Pocilloporid, Porites and some Acropora species.
SURG is seeking government funding through the Office of Environment and Heritage to undertake surveys at South, Split, South West, North and North West Solitary Islands this year and further repeat surveys next year. The aim is to target at least two sites at each of the islands (South, Split, North and North West) in each round of surveys.
For more information see the Coffs Coast Advocate article, Scientists pursue funding for urgent bleaching assessment.