I suspect Mike Emslie and crew from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) didn’t report on the colourful bleaching at John Brewer Reef on 6th March 2022 because they didn’t see any. They were tasked with reporting on bleaching during this routine underwater survey of John Brewer Reef, but they didn’t. It was there in plain view, but only to someone who understands and cares about corals.

I suspect Neil Cantin and crew from AIMS reported that the corals were bleaching white at John Brewer Reef on 25th March 2022 because out an airplane window at 150 metres altitude it is possible to imagine anything. And after all, the purpose of the flyby was to highlight the importance of global action on climate change.

I suspect Peter Ridd keeps reposting the AIMS charts on Facebook suggesting that coral cover is increasing because they are convenient. He knows AIMS misleadingly reports that coral cover at John Brewer is just 21.8% by surveying only the perimeter of this reef. Their methodology is absurd, and it avoids those habitats with most coral cover including the reef crest. Yet he persists.

The experts – Peter Ridd, Neil Cantin and Mike Emslie – have absolutely no idea. No idea about the colour of the corals, and no idea whether the extent of coral cover is increasing or decreasing. But they are the ones in charge and with the money.

*********

The feature image at the top of this blog post shows me under the water at one of the coral reefs fringing Heron Island. The photograph was taken on 10th November 2021. I wasn’t talking to that fish.