Positive signs for the reef in study
THE latest report into the health of the Great Barrier Reef has found historic signs of regrowth, thanks to a year without damaging disturbances from heatwaves and tropical cyclones.
“We’ve never seen anything of this magnitude,” said lead researcher Dr Mike Emslie from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
A total of 127 reefs were surveyed, with 69 showing significant increases in hard coral cover in 2021.
Tour operators are hopeful the report will be sufficient to prevent the Great Barrier Reef being deemed to be “in danger” by UNESCO’S World Heritage Committee this week.
The committee signalled its intention to change the reef’s status to “in danger” last month, but the final decision is expected this Friday.
Gareth Phillips, the chief executive of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, said he didn’t know if the AIMS study would have an impact on this week’s WHC decision, but added: “You would like to think they would consider this latest information.”
The committee’s decision mattered because already there were widespread misperceptions about the state of the reef, Mr Phillips said.
“A lot of effort has to go into explaining that parts of the reef are still beautiful.
“It will be a positive if (the WMC) doesn’t go ahead with the draft recommendation.”
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the report “underlines our view that the World Heritage Committee proposed listing had not been based on the latest information”.
“The report recognises the very real challenges for the reef in the face of changing climates and extreme weather events, but it also underlines the capacity of the reef to recover,” she said.
Dr Emslie described 2021 as “essentially a breather (and) a bit of a reprieve” for the reef as it had not been hit by heatwaves or destructive cyclones.
In an average year, the Great Barrier Reef could be hit by three or four cyclones but in 2021 it experienced none, Dr Emslie said – a phenomenon that has happened only 13 times in the 35-year history of the AIMS study.
The signs of regrowth were apparent in the Northern, Central and Southern parts of the 2300km-long reef. Coral cover was at 27 per cent in the north, 26 per cent in the centre and 39 per cent in the south.
AIMS chief executive Dr Paul Hardisty deflected questions about what this report meant for the WHC determination, saying: “As a national science agency, we don’t have an opinion on that; that’s for others.
“We do not comment on policy,” he added.