According to the ABC, record coral cover is being seen across much of the Great Barrier Reef as it recovers from past storms and mass-bleaching events. Key points: Northern and central sections of the reef have seen record-high coral cover. The rapid growth in coral is mostly accounted for by a particular type of coral. AIMS’ 36-year Long-Term Monitoring Program has seen continued dramatic improvement in coral cover in the northern and central sections of the reef, following a period without intense disturbances. The results come off the back of mass coral bleaching events that have happened at an unprecedented frequency — four out of six occurred in the last seven years. Mass bleaching on the reef, caused by marine heatwaves, not known to occur at all prior to 1998. “The 2020 and 2022 bleaching events, while extensive, didn’t reach the intensity of the 2016 and 2017 events and, as a result, we have seen less mortality,” AIMS chief executive Paul Hardisty said. “The latest data demonstrate the reef can still recover in periods free of intense disturbances.”..Northern GBR and Central GBR

The percentage of coral cover the northern and central Great Barrier Reef has increased. The percentage of coral cover in the northern and central Great Barrier Reef has increased. (Supplied: Australian Institute of Marine Science) Mighty-seven reefs were surveyed between August 2021 and March 2022 as part of the report, which showed cover in the north increased from 27 per cent to 36 per cent, and from 26 per cent to 33 per cent in the central section. That recovery has led to the highest-ever coral cover the Long-Term Monitoring Program has recorded in those sections, which begin north of Mackay. Despite the good news, the southern section, which extends from the Whitsundays down past the Keppel group of islands, has seen a very small reduction in coral cover largely due to an ongoing outbreak of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish. But even the southern section of the reef remains in relatively good health, with 34 per cent coral cover, a reduction from a recent peak of 37 %.

AIMS, which has been monitoring the reef since 1985, has seen dramatic coral growth in some areas. (Supplied: Australian Institute of Marine Science)