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August 2024 | View previous edition
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Waypoint is AIMS' newsletter, delivering a regular selection of AIMS news and achievements directly to your inbox.
We hope you enjoy this special edition, which details our annual report on the condition of the Great Barrier Reef.
Great Barrier Reef shows coral cover increases before onset of serious bleaching, cyclones
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 94 reefs conducted between August 2023 and June 2024.
Results show coral cover has increased in all three regions on the Great Barrier Reef and is at regional highs in two of the three regions. But it's important to understand some details.
Most of the underwater surveys contributing to these findings were conducted before and during the recent mass bleaching event, one of the most extensive and
serious on record. While bleached corals are very stressed, they are still alive and are recorded as live coral on our surveys.
Surveys in the Central region were also completed before the passage of tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023, which brought heavy localised flooding.
This year’s results serve as a very important reference against which to measure the impacts from this summer's mass bleaching event and cyclones. The next LTMP survey season recommences in September, with a full assessment complete by mid-2025.
Watch the summary
Regional overview
On the Northern GBR, region-wide average hard coral cover increased to a regional high of 39.5% (up from last year's 35.8%). All surveys were completed prior to the peak heat stress which occurred in March 2024.
On the Central GBR, region-wide average hard coral cover increased to a regional high of 34.0% (up from last year's 30.7%). Twenty-three of 39 reefs were surveyed before the peak heat stress which occurred in March 2024, while 17 reefs were surveyed before cyclone impacts.
On the Southern GBR, region-wide average hard coral cover increased to 39.1% (up from 34% in 2023). Fourteen of 30 reefs were surveyed prior to the peak heat stress in March 2024.
In addition...
High coral cover amid intense heatwaves and bleaching? How can that be?
The answer is simple: lag time.
Dr Daniela Ceccarelli, Dr David Wachenfeld and Dr Mike Emslie explain in The Conversation.
"Back to the Reef" newsletter
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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