A cooler summer in 2017-18 has helped some Great Barrier Reef coral in Queensland’s north begin recovering.

August 8, 2018

The Great Barrier Reef has begun its journey back to health following back-to-back bleaching in 2016 and 2017.

A survey by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre has found this year’s cooler summer in Queensland’s north has helped some corals begin recovering, with tourism operators reporting improvements at some high-profile dive sites.

Managing director Sheriden Morris said the reef’s high level of biodiversity had assisted the reef’s rehabilitation but warned the reef was not yet out of danger.

“Increasing temperatures experienced around the world from climate change means that the pressure on the Great Barrier Reef is going to continue into the future,” he said on Wednesday.

Mr Morris said bleaching was most severe in the far north of Queensland but it was a misconception to think the whole reef had suffered from coral bleaching.

“There was very little coral bleaching past Townsville and Mackay and the impacts around the Cairns region were patchy,” he said.

He said bleaching ranged from the equivalent of mild sunburn to coral death.

The centre has been working with tourism operators near Cairns to monitor the bleaching levels at key dive tourism sites.

Recent photos show healthy and colourful coral at numerous locations that suffered during the coral bleaching events in 2016 and 2017

Marine biologist Doug Baird said all the sites that survived the mass bleaching events had shown strong signs of recovery.

“We were fortunate that the effects of bleaching were very patchy,” he said.

Healthy coral was reported at Fitzroy Island, Agincourt Reef, Moore Reef and Saxon Reef.