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Reef health update | 30 April 2026
Reef health update | 30 April 2026
Sea surface temperatures continue to ease across the Marine Park, and with the changing of seasons we are seeing the last of the turtle hatchlings and seabird nesting, as humpback and Minke whales begin arriving in the Reef’s breeding grounds.
Queensland’s wet season is also coming to an end, with rainfall over the summer months among the highest levels recorded since 1900.
Temperature
Sea surface temperatures declined slightly, dropping by 0.3–0.5°C across the Marine Park, temperatures remain 0.4–0.5°C above the long-term April average.
Rainfall
Weekly rainfall totals were below average across most Marine Park catchments, with less than 50mm recorded.
Reef health
Over the past week, 43 Reef Health Impact Surveys were conducted across six reefs.
In the Northern region, four reefs were surveyed. Two recorded low coral bleaching, and three showed low to moderate coral damage. Higher bleaching levels in the Northern region are likely linked to prolonged heat exposure over summer combined with earlier flood plume impacts. Coral damage in the Far Northern and Northern regions is likely the result of storm impacts from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
In the Central region, one reef was surveyed with no coral bleaching or damage recorded.
In the Southern region, one reef was surveyed with no coral bleaching or damage recorded.
No coral disease was observed over the past week.
Additional Eye on the Reef observations from across the Marine Park reported coral bleaching on 16 of 20 reefs surveyed.
Crown-of-thorns starfish control
The Crown-of-thorns Starfish Control Program continues to manage ongoing outbreaks across the Marine Park, with updates shared in the first weekly Reef Health Update of each month.
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By Great Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthorityReef health update | 30 April 2026
Sea surface temperatures continue to ease across the Marine Park, and with the changing of seasons we are seeing the last of the turtle hatchlings and seabird nesting, as humpback and Minke whales begin arriving in the Reef’s breeding grounds.
Queensland’s wet season is also coming to an end, with rainfall over the summer months among the highest levels recorded since 1900.
Temperature
Sea surface temperatures declined slightly, dropping by 0.3–0.5°C across the Marine Park, temperatures remain 0.4–0.5°C above the long-term April average.
Rainfall
Weekly rainfall totals were below average across most Marine Park catchments, with less than 50mm recorded.
Reef health
Over the past week, 43 Reef Health Impact Surveys were conducted across six reefs.
In the Northern region, four reefs were surveyed. Two recorded low coral bleaching, and three showed low to moderate coral damage. Higher bleaching levels in the Northern region are likely linked to prolonged heat exposure over summer combined with earlier flood plume impacts. Coral damage in the Far Northern and Northern regions is likely the result of storm impacts from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
In the Central region, one reef was surveyed with no coral bleaching or damage recorded.
In the Southern region, one reef was surveyed with no coral bleaching or damage recorded.
No coral disease was observed over the past week.
Additional Eye on the Reef observations from across the Marine Park reported coral bleaching on 16 of 20 reefs surveyed.
Crown-of-thorns starfish control
The Crown-of-thorns Starfish Control Program continues to manage ongoing outbreaks across the Marine Park, with updates shared in the first weekly Reef Health Update of each month.