Australia’s Great Barrier Reef appears to be recovering, according to the latest figures from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Scientists have watched corals fade and die for years, but now new corals are growing in parts. Coral reefs are still under threat.

The researchers studied a total of 87 sites. The AIMS annual report said they saw the most coral cover in 36 years in the central and northern parts of the reef. Coverage of hard reefs rose to 33 and 36 percent, respectively, from 26 and 27 percent last year.

“We see that the Great Barrier Reef is still very resilient. It can recover,” said Mike Emsley, who is involved in the AIMS monitoring program. Reuters.

Despite the accumulation of new corals, the UNESCO-listed corals are still endangered. Scientists continue to warn of massive water bleaching due to climate change. They also say that the situation can change quickly.

In the southern part, the amount of coral cover decreased from 38 percent in 2021 to 34 percent this year. Last year there was an improvement. “This shows how vulnerable coral reefs are to human disturbance, which is becoming more common and lasting longer today,” said Paul Hardesty, CEO of AIMS.