Wednesday 6th August, 2025
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) today released a sobering report confirming record-breaking coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef, with the 2024–25 monitoring period revealing the most widespread and severe bleaching event since records began 39 years ago.
The findings have sparked urgent calls from conservation groups in Central and North Queensland to halt all new coal developments in the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region and to fast-track genuine climate action.
Emma Barrett, Coordinator of the Mackay Conservation Group, said the report is a devastating wake-up call and a reminder that decisions made in Queensland have global consequences.
“The science is clear – continued fossil fuel expansion is incompatible with the survival of the Reef. We cannot afford to approve new coal mines while the Reef suffers its worst coral loss on record,” Ms Barrett said. “The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region is being pitched as a hub for coal expansion, yet it’s also the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Our region must lead the shift away from fossil fuels, not double down on them.”
The report highlights that coral cover has declined sharply across all three regions of the Reef, primarily due to repeated mass bleaching events driven by rising sea temperatures, which are directly linked to climate change and the burning of fossil fuels.
Tony Fontes, President of the Whitsunday Conservation Council and long-time dive operator, said the loss of coral is more than just an environmental crisis—it’s an existential threat to the Whitsundays.
“This is ecological devastation. The loss of coral means the collapse of reef biodiversity—countless species rely on this fragile ecosystem,” Mr Fontes said. “For the Whitsundays, this is also an economic disaster. Our communities depend on a healthy Reef to support tourism, jobs, and our identity. Without urgent action, we risk losing all of it.”
Conservationists also criticised the Queensland Government’s recently launched “Destination 2045” plan, which aims to promote the Reef and Queensland as a world-class tourism destination.
“It’s deeply contradictory,” said Ms Barrett. “You can’t claim to champion Reef tourism while green-lighting the very coal projects that are driving its destruction. Protecting the Reef must be more than a marketing slogan—it has to be a policy priority.”
As the Reef faces escalating threats, the message from the community is clear: if the Reef is to survive, Queensland must stop fuelling the crisis.
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Contact details:
Emma Barrett
Coordinator
Mackay Conservation Group
0402 966 560
[email protected]
Tony Fontes
President
Whitsunday Conservation Council
0417 749 143
[email protected]