In-water monitoring by our Long-Term Monitoring Program team shows hard coral cover across the Great Barrier Reef remains at similar levels to that recorded in 2022, with small decreases in the Northern, Central and Southern regions.                                                  

Understanding the condition of the Great Barrier Reef is complex.

Dr Mike Emslie, Dr Daniela Ceccarelli and Dr David Wachenfeld wrote for The Conversation, diving below the surface to answer the question - 'How is the Reef going?'

The Long-Term Monitoring Program team have finished their annual calibration trip. The team train in each survey task to ensure data collection is consistent across all team members. The next monitoring season is around the corner, beginning in late-September. Sign up to receive regular survey updates from the team in their "Back from the Reef" newsletter.

Mr Basil Ahyick, AIMS’ acting CEO

Patricia Kelly PSM, AIMS Council

Coral reef monitoring in the Pacific

Our ReefCloud team have extended the program into Samoa. The team are working with the Samoan Government and local reef communities, introducing them to the fast, image-based coral reef monitoring technology. 

How do you choose which coral species to use in reef restoration?

With difficulty! The diversity of traits and characteristics in coral species is essential for the ecosystem to provide its services. Scientists have devised an approach to help select coral species for their restoration research.

Helping coral weather the heat

Dr Line Bay and Dr Paul Hardisty describe methods of accelerating the natural evolution of heat-tolerant corals, automated aquaculture, and collaborative decision-making with First Nations groups to place corals onto the Great Barrier Reef at meaningful scale.

Images: Jo Hurford and Melanie Olsen

Australia’s fledgling autonomous marine technology industry put its newest products to the test at ReefWorks, AIMS’ tropical marine technology test range, during an Open Range event.

Advanced Navigation tested its compact, autonomous underwater drone Hydrus Micro-AUV which located target objects in less than 30 minutes using a camera with an AI image-processing system.

EdgeROV tested its tethered autonomous aerial drone, Raptor sUAV, which not only located a ‘missing person’ but a humpback whale frolicking with her calf 2km offshore.

James Cook University also put its latest WAM-V autonomous surface vehicle through its paces.