Australia's vast reef is struggling to re-grow corals after unprecedented bleaching, scientists say.
The number of new corals on Australia's Great Barrier Reef has plunged by 89% since unprecedented bleaching events in 2016 and 2017, scientists say.
The events, which damaged two-thirds of the world's largest reef system, are now being blamed for triggering a collapse in coral re-growth last year.
"Dead corals don't make babies," said lead author Prof Terry Hughes, from Queensland's James Cook University.
The scientists blame the problem on rising sea temperatures.
The research, published in Nature journal on Thursday, was carried out by a group of scientists last year.
