ENVIRONMENT Minister Steven Miles said he is concerned about reports the Great Barrier Reef is undergoing a second major coral bleaching event in two years.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is this morning expected to release findings from aerial surveys conducted yesterday afternoon over northern parts of the reef.

David Wachenfeld explains this second mass coral bleaching event David Wachenfeld explains this second mass coral bleaching event

Warm ocean temperatures is understood to have caused the widespread coral bleaching to parts of the Reef between Townsville and Port Douglas.

media_camera Environment Minister Steven Miles inspects a large bed of bleached coral from the semi-submersible at Moore Reef on the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Brian Casey

Dr Miles said the revelations were unexpected.

“We were reassured that the reef would have a chance to recover (from last year’s coral bleaching event),” he said.

“We were told it was very unlikely for another bleaching event this year. Early survey work is showing, for the first time ever, that the reef is experiencing a second bleaching event within two years.”

media_camera This supplied image shows the Great Barrier Reef suffering mass bleaching for a second year in a row at Vlassoff Cay, near Cairns. Picture: AAP Image/WWF Australia, Biopixel

Environmental agency WWF said last year’s coral bleaching killed off around 22% of all coral in the northern parts of the reef and was now affecting popular tourism locations.

“Climate change has knocked the Reef to its knees and now it is kicking it in the guts,” said WWF-Australia Head of Oceans Richard Leck.

AUSTRALIA: Great Barrier Reef Suffers Severe Bleaching for Second Year in a Row March 09 AUSTRALIA: Great Barrier Reef Suffers Severe Bleaching for Second Year in a Row March 09

“I’m shocked and saddened by what is unfolding. I did not anticipate back-to-back bleaching this decade.”