AUDIO: Great Barrier Reef set to experience ‘biggest mass spawning event of the year’
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A UNESCO advisory body says the Great Barrier Reef has deteriorated to a "critical" condition, with climate change posing the greatest threat.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature found three mass coral bleaching events in the past five years have led to a dramatic decline in the reef's world heritage value.
Now this comes as the biggest mass spawning event of the year gets underway at the World Heritage site tonight.
Dr Julie Vercelloni works with the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, and Queensland University of Technology and spoke to ABC’s Thomas Oriti.