Climate scientists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fear the worst coral bleaching phenomena this year since 2010.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral structure and home to rich marine life. Photo: SCIENCE PHOTO
The latest outlook from its Coral Reef Watch programme shows serious coral bleaching throughout 2015 after an already bleak 2014.
A co-ordinator Mark Eakin says corals are the basis of the marine ecosystem in the same way that trees are in a forest ecosytem providing both the structure and habitat for other organisms.
"So when the corals are injured like this and it causes a breakdown in the ecosystem. It then propagates through all of the fish all of the shellfish all of the organisms on that coral reef and has major impacts on people who depend on these resourcs."
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Mark Eakin says ideally a simultaneous approach of reducing carbon emissions and protecting and repairing the reefs is the best way to ensure the survival of coral species.
