Marine biologist Dr Jodie Rummer reveals the future hope for the Great Barrier Reef

A Townsville marine biologist has dived to the bottom of the Coral Sea to document the natural wonder of coral spawning.

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A TOWNSVILLE marine biologist has seen first-hand the promising results of coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef.

For seven days from November 30, Dr Jodie Rummer explored 13 reefs, documenting the state of the heritage listed corals. She completed 15 dives, up to 3m deep. The Great Barrier Reef has seen a bleaching phenomenon three times in the past five years. Bleaching occurs when the water is too warm.

Coral spawning — where coral polyps simultaneously release sperm and egg bundles for fertilisation — happens during November and December every year.

Dr Rummer has been diving the ocean since 1997 and said the revitalisation of the reef was hopeful. “If you have a really good spawn that is landing on some of the structures that have been damaged in the past it can grow again,” she said.

Dr Jodie Rummer completed 15 dives to 13 reefs on the Great Barrier Reef earlier this month to collect data about the yearly coral spawning. Photo: Brad Fisher-Thompson.

“What was promising was, we could see some really great regrowth happening and these little glimmers is the hope that we need.”

Dr Jodie Rummer completed 15 dives at 13 reefs on the Great Barrier Reef earlier this month to collect data about the yearly coral spawning. Photo: Brad Fisher-Thompson.

Dr Rummer said despite the promising observations the fight against coral bleaching wasn’t over.

“No matter what dotted line we put around the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park or marine parks in general, climate change is crossing those lines and we have to address those major issues,” she said.

Originally published as Marine biologist Dr Jodie Rummer reveals the future hope for the Great Barrier Reef