'Unprecedented' mass bleaching drains life from Australian reef

An "unprecedented" mass bleaching event has been recorded off Australia's western coast, scientists said on March 26, turning huge chunks of a celebrated reef system a sickly dull white.

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SYDNEY - An "unprecedented" mass bleaching event has been recorded off Australia's western coast, scientists said on March 26, turning huge chunks of a celebrated reef system a sickly dull white.

A months-long marine heatwave has "cooked" the sprawling Ningaloo Reef, ocean scientist Kate Quigley said, part of a world heritage-listed marine park renowned for vibrant corals and migrating whale sharks.

Although environment officials were still verifying the scale of damage, data collected by Dr Quigley and a team of scientists found it was on track to be the reef's worst mass bleaching event in years.

"Warm oceans have just cooked the corals this year," Dr Quigley said.

"It wouldn't be amiss to throw in the word 'unprecedented,'" she said. "It has gone deep. It's not just the top of the reef that is bleaching. Many different species of coral are bleaching."