The first observations of coral bleaching have been reported in the Kaiwalagal Region of the Torres Strait.
The bleaching comes as marine monitoring stations have recorded a steady increase in water temperature over the last month, with a peak of 32.3 degrees on 13 March.
Chairman of the Torres Strait Regional Authority and Saibai man Joseph Elu says the temperature is almost half a degree warmer than what coral scientists thought was at the point at which widespread coral bleaching might occur.
Mr Elu says the changes have been affecting local fishermen.
