We've just had a weekend on some of our favourite reefs on the Outer Reef south of Cooktown- unfortunately also some of the worst hit by coral bleaching. Without question there has been a major recalibration of parts of these particular reef areas but the signs of reef resilience in even the worst hit patches are beginning to show.
The shallow reef areas that simmered in warmer than usual water over a cloudless hot summer have suffered with much of the coral either stressed or dead. With crisis though comes opportunity in nature. The real estate that is opening up becomes a home for new recruits - Pocillopora (Cauliflower Coral) is a good survivor where we visited and it broods its larvae and releases them throughout the year. Hopefully they will be a pioneer that colonises much of the dead areas. We saw tiny colonies of other species - presumably from last year's spawning - that will now survive in the cooler conditions and become the new regime in their little patch.
The herbivores were abundant - the Surgeon Fish and Parrotfish. Damsels and Rabbitfish. They will be key in coming months in keeping the reef "mown" as the algae grows on the substrate of the dead coral colonies. We must make sure that we nurture these herbivores as they are key to reef health.
The Planktivores were also abundant - the Blue green Chromis, Unicorn Fish and Fusiliers. A great herd of Buffalo Fish and lots of quite fat and inquisitive sharks - a good sign. They have probably fed well over the last months but who knows - they might now be facing some leaner times as the larder runs low for a time.
The reef will recover fastest if it has healthy conditions to recover in. The 2 key actions are to ensure good water quality and to have "no take" zones where the reef fauna is maintained in its entirety. GBRMPA and AIMS have well identified the importance of this approach.
Excellent media release from GBRMPA/AIMS - with the accurate facts in easy to understand commentary.

Blog - Thinking about the GBR