No images? Click here
August 2025 | 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.
Substantial impacts from 2024 mass coral bleaching and cyclones reduce regional coral cover to near long-term average
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 124 reefs conducted between August 2024 and May 2025.
Average hard coral cover has declined sharply from recent high levels, due to record heat stress leading to mass coral bleaching, along with cyclones and associated flooding during the 2024 summer and ongoing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
The Northern and Southern regions were most affected and had their largest annual decline in coral cover in 39 years of monitoring.
Average coral cover within each region has now declined to near the long-term average.
Dr Mike Emslie and Dr Daniela Ceccarelli explain this year's report
Regional overview
Northern Great Barrier Reef
Average hard coral cover declined from historic high of 39.8% in 2024 to 30.0%.
This is the largest single-year decline for the region on record; however the level of coral cover remains above the long-term average.
Central Great Barrier Reef
Average hard coral cover was 28.6%, down from the historic high of 33.2% reached in 2024.
This region remains the most stable and remains above the long-term average, however there were large coral losses in the Cairns sector.
Southern Great Barrier Reef
Average hard coral decreased to 26.9%, a decline from 39.1% in 2024.
Coral cover is now slightly below the long-term average. This is the largest single-year decline for any GBR region since monitoring began 39 years ago.
In addition...
World’s biggest coral survey confirms sharp decline in Great Barrier Reef after heatwave
This follows a record-breaking marine heatwave in 2024.
Dr Daniela Ceccarelli, Dr David Wachenfeld and Dr Mike Emslie explain in The Conversation.
"Back from 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.
FOLLOW
- Follow AIMS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube
- Sign up for regular survey updates from AIMS' Great Barrier Reef Long-Term Monitoring team
