A report published this Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has revealed that since 1985, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia has lost almost half its coral cover.

A survey had been carried out by a group of researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the same has discovered the loss over years. The analysis looked at the reef system for this long duration.

It has been found that the rate of decline in corals was 28% previously and the same has come down to 13.8% over a period of 27 years. Also, the drop was seen more since 1998 with a contribution of almost two-thirds of the total plummet.

The reason is being claimed to be a number of factors, including coral-eating starfish, coral bleaching or hurricanes. It is being said that the reef, the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, is one of the most protected marine areas. And the fact that natural forces are attacking this area too is a matter of huge concern.

The team has told that some 48% decline is a result of storms with crown-of-horns starfish causing 42% damage. “We are basically losing an ecosystem that is so iconic for Australia and the rest of the world”, said Katharina E. Fabricius, institute scientist.