Dr Selina Ward speaking at a press conference in Brisbane.

Dr Selina Ward is a marine biologist who specialises in coral reproduction and recruitment. She has been working at The University of Queensland since 2000 and is Academic Director of Heron Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef.

Dr Selina Ward says the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef has become more grim with yet another bleaching event.

“With just two years since the last mass coral bleaching event, reefs will again not have had the chance to make a good start towards recovery,” she said.

“This is the first big bleaching event in a La Niña year, which we would expect to protect our reef from bleaching.

“Only a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions right now will give the Great Barrier Reef the best chance of survival. Our governments need to move away from fossil fuels immediately if we hope to enjoy the Reef into the future.”