Deepwater corals may be key to restoring damaged reefs, survey finds

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/26/deepwater-corals-great-barrier-reef?intcmp=122


The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, stretching 2,000km along the Queensland coast. Photographer: Queensland Tourism/AP

Healthy corals that lie deep below the ocean's surface may be the key to regenerating parts of Australia's badly damaged Great Barrier Reef, according to an underwater survey being carried out off the coast of northern Queensland.

Using remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and deep-sea diving techniques, the Catlin Seaview Survey has found healthy coral habitats at depths of 30-120 metres, right underneath badly damaged areas of the Great Barrier Reef.

"Some of the shallow areas of the reefs we've been diving on have been completely devastated by cyclones, but as soon as we dive to depths of 40m and below, the areas are almost completely untouched," said Pim Bongaerts of the University of Queensland's global change institute, who is leading the deep reef survey.

Until now, very little has been known about the deep reefs and knowledge has been largely limited to depths of 30m, which is accessible by scuba diving. For the first time, the survey's findings suggest deeper waters may provide a form of refuge for corals.