The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, has shown signs of recovery from damage caused by climate change, thanks to a late summer monsoon. The rainy period increased cloud cover and reduced sea temperatures, limiting the severity and extent of bleaching, according to conservationists.
Recovery Efforts
A report by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) found that coral cover across all three regions of the Reef increased slightly or remained at similar levels to that recorded last year. The report also showed that coral cover levels increased by 16.7% in the Northern Region and were up 10.2% in the Central region, but decreased by 2% relative to 2025 levels in the Southern region.
Conservationists say the findings indicate ‘limited’ impacts from 2025’s mass bleaching event, and the regional bleaching event in the Northern and Central regions recorded earlier in 2026. AIMS Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP) leader Mike Emslie says coral cover levels increased ‘modestly’ or remained stable on many reefs and substantial declines were uncommon.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
