Unique Corals Near Extinction: Disease, El Niño, and Government Dredging Threaten Norfolk Island

Scientists warn that the unique coral reefs surrounding Australia’s remote Norfolk Island face a triple threat: disease, El Niño, and a new government-approved dredging project. Most of the island’s coral species have not yet been formally identified by science, according to a researcher. The corals are now under severe stress from a combination of factors. A federal government plan to dredge a nearby shipping channel adds to existing dangers. Disease outbreaks and algae growth have already damaged the reefs. Experts blame poor management of sediment and pollution from cattle farming, land clearing, and wastewater. These pollutants flow into the bays, fueling disease and smothering the corals. If the threats are not controlled, scientists fear these rare corals could disappear entirely.