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August 2026 | View previous edition
Hi
Welcome to a special edition of AIMS' Waypoint newsletter, which details our annual report on the condition of the Great Barrier Reef.
Monsoon relief supports initial recovery from recent bleaching
Released today, our annual report summarises the condition of coral reefs in the Northern, Central and Southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) from the Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP) surveys of 121 reefs conducted between August 2025 and June 2026.
Average hard coral cover across all three regions of the GBR increased slightly or remained similar to levels recorded in 2025, signalling the start of recovery from the impacts of the mass bleaching event in 2024.
Late-summer monsoon activity increased cloud cover and reduced sea temperatures, likely limiting the severity and extent of bleaching.
Hard coral cover is currently above the long-term average in the Northern and Central regions, and remains below the long-term average in the Southern region.
Dr Mike Emslie and Dr Daniela Ceccarelli explain this year's report
Regional overview
Northern Great Barrier Reef
Average hard coral cover increased from 30.0% in 2025 to 35.1% in 2026.
This is an increase of 16.7% relative to 2025, and coral cover remains above the long-term average of 27.0%.
Central Great Barrier Reef
Average hard coral cover increased from 28.6% in 2025 to 31.6% in 2026.
This is a relative increase of 10.2% compared to 2025, with 2026 hard coral cover above the long-term average of 20.0%.
Southern Great Barrier Reef
Average hard coral cover was relatively stable although decreased slightly to 26.4% from 26.9% in 2025.
This represents a relative decline of 2.0% of 2025 levels, and regional coral cover remains below the long-term average of 29.3%.
In addition...
AIMS' Dr Jessica Benthuysen, Dr Daniela Ceccarelli, and Dr Mike Emslie explain in The Conversation.
The next monitoring season is around the corner, beginning in September. Sign up to receive regular survey updates from the LTMP team in their "Back from the Reef" newsletter.
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