The Wire

The Great Barrier Reef lost half its coral in the last 27 years, a new study shows. Researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science concluded that less than 25 per cent of the original coral would remain in 2022. The report identifies major threats to the Great Barrier Reef such as storm damage and coral bleaching. However, over 40 per cent of the damage is attributed to the Crown-of-thorns starfish. The scientists argue that the increasing starfish population is a result of pollution from chemical fertilisers.