Coral bleaching update on Australia's Great Barrier Reef labeled 'deeply concerning'

Queensland state Great Barrier Reef Minister Steven Miles has labeled an update from Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as 'deeply concerning'.

Extensive in-water and aerial surveys continued to show the most severe bleaching remained in the far northern sector of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said in an update on Friday.

"Bleaching is less severe towards the southern part of the Reef," they said.

"If the waters cool down soon, the corals can survive, but if the corals remain stressed for many weeks, they will die off."

Miles noted the world's largest coral reef, which supported almost 70,000 jobs and was worth 6 billion Australian dollars (4.52 billion U.S. dollars) to the Queensland state economy, continued to be one of the greatest tourism destinations on the planet.

"We need to keep focusing on reducing as many pressures on the Reef as possible reducing emissions and ensuring clean water for coral to thrive,'' Dr Miles said.

"In particular, we need to drastically reduce the amount of sediment reaching the Reef as this blocks out the light corals need to survive."

Miles is due to receive a major report on the matter in May. Endit