The Reef is bouncing back

AT last some good news for the Great Barrier Reef amongst the doom and gloom about coral bleaching.

Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers have discovered new signs of life in some of the worst affected parts of the Reef.

Tiny sacs of white eggs have been found in bleached coral reefs between Townsville and Cairns.

They say it raises new hope for the areas of bad bleaching.

The remarkable and fast recovery has surprised AIMS coral biologist Dr Neal Cantin.

Researchers inspected 14 reefs between Townsville and Cairns, including Fitzroy Island where surviving coral were producing eggs.

Previous studies have shown a two-to-three-year delay in reproduction after severe bleaching.

The majority of coral colonies on the inshore reefs had regained their colour and the growth of some colonies was surprisingly good.

But they also discovered that some of the more sensitive corals are now even rarer in areas where they were abundant in March.

The Reef has been hit by two coral-bleaching catastrophes in the past two years.

It’s lead to alarmists declaring the Reef is dying due to climate change and man’s irresponsibility.

But research by AIMS also shows how resilient the Reef is. It’s fighting back.

It still doesn’t mean we can sit back and become complacent.

We must continue to support all efforts to protect the Reef from manmade pollution and natural enemies.

The Great Barrier Reef is the greatest in the world.

The latest research and observations are heartening.