About this Snapshot
Summer is a critical time for the health of coral. This snapshot provides a summary of conditions on the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef) throughout summer, how these conditions impact coral and actions underway to help coral reefs. The snapshot focuses on coral. The health of other habitats or species is not presented.
Each year, towards the end of summer, the snapshot is prepared by the three main Australian Government agencies responsible for Reef management and science: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority), Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), and CSIRO.
This snapshot is based on the latest information available at the time of writing. It does not take the place of ongoing rigorous reporting by all agencies. It sets the scene for the more comprehensive reports released later in the year, such as the mid-year Long-Term Monitoring Program reports by AIMS, and reports from the Marine Monitoring Program managed by the Reef Authority.
Summary for 2023-24
At the beginning of the 2023-24 austral summer, the AIMS LTMP showed regional coral cover levels remained high overall. Increases in coral cover in recent years has been dominated by fast-growing species that are highly vulnerable to disturbances. The recent global pattern of extreme heat, driven by climate change has adversely affected many coral reefs globally, including the Great Barrier Reef.
Download the Reef Snapshot 2023-24 document by clicking this link.