Coral society

Jan. 5, 2014, 4 a.m.

The world's largest coral reef is being reinvigorated, writes Sheriden Rhodes, with a range of new and upgraded multimillion-dollar resorts and hotels.

The world's largest coral reef is being reinvigorated, writes Sheriden Rhodes, with a range of new and upgraded multimillion-dollar resorts and hotels.

As we fly over the Whitsunday Islands to the Great Barrier Reef, elongated trails of coral spawn dissect the impossibly blue water with its mosaic of jewel-like reefs, islands, coral cays and atolls. The glassy surface of the sea and horizon merge and for a surreal moment it's as if we're flying through the ocean itself.

Once the outer reef looms into sight, passengers fall reverently silent as we behold one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Our aerial outlook gives some perspective to the world's largest coral reef system - the only living organism visible from space - and one of Australia's biggest tourist drawcards.

Richard Fitzpatrick, Emmy Award-winning underwater cinematographer, marine biologist and producer of acclaimed BBC series Great Barrier Reef, says the recently flagged loss of the reef's world heritage status would be devastating. "No longer could we compete with the prestige of other world heritage sites. It would also highlight the failure of government in protecting this global icon."

Peter Gash, eco-warrior, pilot and owner of Lady Elliot Island, says while there are many other iconic places worldwide with unique beauty, Australians should visit the reef at least once in their lifetime.

"There is more marine life found per square inch on the Great Barrier Reef than anywhere else on the planet."

While considered one of the world's best-managed reefs, its fragile ecosystem faces threats from coastal development, water quality, cyclones, crown-of-thorns, ship groundings and climate change. Shipping and port development have recently emerged as issues - threatening not just the reef itself, but the $5.7 billion tourism industry it supports.

Despite this, the Great Barrier Reef's islands, towns and resorts that stretch almost 2600 kilometres along the North Queensland coast are being reborn, not unlike the vast summer spawning of corals, fish and other marine life that recolonise its 2900-plus reefs, as this guide shows.

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Coral society