Public talk: The state of Western Australia's coral reefs
Free | Bookings required
Duration
1 hour
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Climate heating threatens the future of Western Australia's amazing coral reefs, but science teams are working on local initiatives to slow degradation until the global causes are addressed.
Join marine scientist Dr James Gilmour for an update on the current science work that is centred on the fabulous reefs found in Western Australia's natural heritage.
Western Australia has an amazing diversity of coral reefs that are among the world’s healthiest. Our reefs have escaped many human pressures, but impacts from climate heating and coral bleaching have increased in recent years. A marine heatwave in 2025 caused unprecedented impact across WA, affecting even our healthiest and most remote coral reefs. Relentless increases in global temperatures will cause more frequent and severe impacts to our coral reefs until the global causes are addressed. In the meantime, scientists, managers, government, community, industry and philanthropy across WA are working together to slow reef degradation locally, exploring a combination of strategies to increase coral cover and diversity.
About the Presenter
Dr James Gilmour has undertaken extensive research on northern Australian coral reefs. His current work focuses on coral communities across the oceanic reefs of north-western Australia, as well as nearshore reefs in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions. James leads monitoring programs at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), overseeing the collection of detailed data on reef condition and coral populations to better understand how these ecosystems change over time.
After studying at James Cook University in north Queensland, I worked with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Aquarium, James Cook University and the Museum of Tropical Queensland. I then completed my PhD with the University of Western Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). I have worked at AIMS WA and studied WA coral reefs for over two decades, collaborating with industry, universities, government, tourism and Indigenous communities. My current research focuses on reefs from Ningaloo to the oceanic atolls on the edge of the continental shelf. We conduct large monitoring and research projects that assess impact and recovery from multiple pressures, while increasingly exploring ways to slow degradation. I am passionate about communicating our research and the plight of reefs to stakeholders and the public. - Dr James Gilmour
