Cant comment of the Whiting catch..BUT you may not be aware (or allowed to be aware) that coral growth within the the Great Barrier Reef is at an all time high.. Just saying
This one here is actually a classic bit of misinformation and it relates to taking a fact out of context. Let's call this being gullible to facts that do not portray an accurate representation of the issue being discussed. So for instance it is like stating that Jimmy Jones smoked all his life and died with no sign of cancer therefore smoking doesn't cause cancer.
Only a gullible person would buy such a stupid statement (about Jimmy). I'll discuss some of the why some people turn into cookers - i.e. people whose feelings about a subject do not match to the facts but they passionately believe it. Flat-earthers, anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers all fit this category.
Anyway onto the analysis in a bit of detail:-
Is Coral Growth in the Great Barrier Reef at an All-Time High? A Closer Look
Overview of the Claim:
Some climate change skeptics or contrarians claim that coral growth in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is at “an all-time high,” suggesting that the reef is healthy and climate change is either exaggerated or not a threat. While this claim contains a kernel of truth, it is
misleading and incomplete. Here’s why.
The Facts Behind the Claim
The
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), which has been monitoring the GBR for decades, published reports in
2022 and 2023 showing that:
- Hard coral cover (the percentage of reef surface covered by living hard coral) in the northern and central GBR reached its highest levels since monitoring began in 1985.
- This recovery followed severe coral bleaching and storm damage from 2016–2020.
Source:
Australian Institute of Marine Science 2023 Annual Summary
Why the “All-Time High” Framing is Misleading
1. Recovery ≠ Resilience
The recent growth is a
rebound, not a sign of long-term resilience or stability. The GBR has suffered
five major coral bleaching events since 2016, driven by
record ocean heat. These events:
- Kill coral or weaken it significantly.
- Disrupt entire reef ecosystems.
- Are occurring more frequently due to climate change.
AIMS explicitly warns that this growth could be quickly reversed by further bleaching or cyclones.
Source:
AIMS 2022 Media Release
2. Growth Dominated by Vulnerable Coral Species
The growth in coral cover has been driven
mostly by Acropora species:
- These corals grow quickly after damage.
- But they’re also highly vulnerable to heat stress, cyclones, and crown-of-thorns starfish.
- Their dominance can make reefs more fragile, not stronger.
Think of it as rebuilding a house with cheap materials after a hurricane. It looks fixed, but the structure is weak.
Source:
Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2019 (GBRMPA)
3. Southern Reef Not Experiencing Same Growth
The
southern GBR did
not show the same rebound in coral cover.
- This regional variability undermines the claim of a reef-wide “all-time high.”
- Coral cover remains patchy, and many parts of the reef are still in recovery or decline.
4. Coral Cover ≠ Reef Health
While coral cover is a useful indicator, it does
not capture:
- Biodiversity
- Structural complexity
- Ecological balance
- Fish populations and other marine life
A reef can have high coral cover but still be in poor ecological health.
Source:
Hughes et al. (2021) – Global warming impairs recovery of coral reefs
5. Global Scientific Consensus on Climate Risk to Reefs
The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that:
- 70–90% of tropical coral reefs will likely be lost at 1.5°C of warming.
- Over 99% could be lost if warming reaches 2°C.
- The GBR is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change.
Source:
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report – Summary for Policymakers (2022)
Summary: What to Say When You Hear This Claim
“It’s true that coral cover has recently increased in some parts of the Great Barrier Reef, but this growth is mostly due to a rebound of fast-growing, fragile coral species after recent damage. Scientists warn that the reef remains extremely vulnerable to climate change. These short-term gains don’t mean the reef is healthy or safe in the long run — in fact, they may give a false sense of security while the underlying threats continue to grow.”