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Norfolk Island’s unique corals under triple threat from disease, El Niño and now government-approved dredging

The Guardian UK Saturday 04 July 2026, 20:00 UTC By Graham Readfearn Environment and climate correspondent 1 min read
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Exclusive: Most of the island’s corals are likely to be species that have not been formally described by science, researcher saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastScientists fear unique corals that fringe Australia’s remote Norfolk Island could disappear because of a triple threat of disease, El Niño and a federal government plan to dredge a neighbouring shipping channel. A failure to manage sediment and pollution washing into bays from cattle farming, cleared land...

Exclusive: Most of the island’s corals are likely to be species that have not been formally described by science, researcher says

Scientists fear unique corals that fringe Australia’s remote Norfolk Island could disappear because of a triple threat of disease, El Niño and a federal government plan to dredge a neighbouring shipping channel.

A failure to manage sediment and pollution washing into bays from cattle farming, cleared land along with wastewater has been blamed for widespread disease and outbreaks of algae over the corals.

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Norfolk Island (LOCATION) El Niño (PERSON) saysGet (ORG) Australia (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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