Great Barrier Reef Health Update – 5 February 2026

If you’re planning a trip to the Great Barrier Reef this summer, it helps to know what’s happening beneath the surface. The latest Reef Health Update from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority outlines current sea temperatures, rainfall impacts, wildlife activity and reef management efforts across the Marine Park — providing useful context for divers and snorkelers deciding when and where to explore the Reef.

Sea Surface Temperatures

Water temperatures across most regions of the Marine Park are still warmer than average, though cooler than peak summer conditions.

• Far Northern region: approximately 0.1°C above the long-term monthly average
• Northern, Central and Southern regions: between 0.3°C and 0.7°C above average

Overall, temperatures remain slightly elevated but are not at levels typically associated with widespread coral stress at this stage of the season.

Rainfall and Water Quality

January brought above-average rainfall across all Reef catchments, with the heaviest falls recorded in the Cape York region. Between 26 January and 1 February, parts of the Wet Tropics experienced daily rainfall totals exceeding 200 mm.

With catchments already saturated, additional rainfall increases the likelihood of freshwater, nutrients and sediment flowing into the Marine Park. The Reef Authority has confirmed that water quality monitoring is ongoing to better understand how these conditions may affect nearby reefs, particularly following forecasts indicating a high chance of continued rainfall in the coming week.

Reef Wildlife Activity

Summer is a busy and biologically significant time on the Reef.

From late January through April, thousands of baby turtles hatch and make their way from nesting beaches to the Marine Park. Many islands and mainland beaches are currently seeing regular turtle activity, especially around dawn and dusk.

At the same time, seabird breeding season is well underway. Numerous species are nesting on Reef islands and feeding across the Marine Park throughout February, adding to the seasonal increase in wildlife activity observed by rangers and tourism operators.

Coral Bleaching Observations

Between 26 January and 1 February, Reef Authority teams completed 143 Reef Health Impact Surveys across 14 reefs, with 12 reefs showing no or only minor bleaching. Bleaching was recorded on two reefs:

• One reef in the Northern region: low levels of bleaching (1–10%)
• One reef in the Southern region: higher levels of bleaching (31–60%), which is now under close observation

Additional reports from Eye on the Reef monitoring programs identified bleaching on 13 of the 20 reefs surveyed. Importantly, these impacts remain localised rather than widespread at this point in the summer.

Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control

Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) outbreaks continue to pose a threat to coral health, with the most severe activity currently recorded in:

• The Southern region, particularly the Swain Reefs
• The Northern region, between Cairns and Lizard Island

Specialised dive teams are actively surveying and culling COTS on priority reefs as part of ongoing control efforts. Since July, COTS control teams have surveyed or treated 153 reefs across the Marine Park:

• 61 reefs (around 40%) now have COTS at sustainable levels, supporting coral recovery
• 57 reefs (around 37%) remain under active culling to suppress outbreaks
• 35 reefs (around 23%) have detected COTS, with management planned as resources allow

The Reef Authority reports that these efforts continue to deliver strong coral protection outcomes.

Ongoing Monitoring and Management

The Reef Authority continues to work alongside the Reef Joint Field Management Program, the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program, researchers, tourism operators, contractors and partner institutions to ensure management decisions are guided by the most up-to-date information.

Current priorities include strengthening Reef resilience, such as repositioning parts of the COTS control fleet to respond early to emerging outbreaks in the north, and conducting compliance patrols to encourage responsible use of the Marine Park.

Meanwhile, Marine Monitoring Program teams are in the field sampling water quality and tracking flood plumes across the Cape York, Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Fitzroy and Mackay–Whitsunday catchments following recent heavy rainfall associated with ex-tropical cyclone Koji and ongoing tropical lows.

Find out more

Diveplanit will continue to share the Reef Authority’s Reef health updates as new information becomes available, helping travellers and operators stay informed about conditions across the Great Barrier Reef. If you’re planning a dive or snorkelling trip, explore Diveplanit to discover responsibly operated experiences, liveaboards and destinations that support Reef conservation while showcasing the best of this extraordinary underwater world.

For monthly updates on reef health, subscribe to the Reef Authority’s updates here.