Coral Bleaching Response Plan 2010-2011

Abstract

Climate change poses a multitude of threats to reefs but the increased frequency and severity of coral bleaching events is among the most pressing (Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2007). To meet the challenge of responding to coral bleaching events, the Climate Change Group at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) developed a Coral Bleaching Response Plan (the Response Plan) in 2002, as part of a response to the bleaching event that occurred in the late summer (February and March) of that year. Since then, the Climate Change Group has coordinated implementation of the Response Plan each summer – December to March – and has reviewed and refined it annually. The Plan outlines a strategic approach for monitoring bleaching risk and responding to coral bleaching events when they occur, and has four components. Within this document, the objectives of each of the four primary components are outlined and described in detail: