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A veteran marine biologist has found hope amid the gloom about the Great Barrier Reef's future due, with this week's coral spawning event showing the natural wonder is recovering from the effect of warming waters.
Gareth Phillips has led an eight-strong crew off the far north Queensland coast to monitor the spectacular coral spawning event - dubbed the 'Everest of reproduction' - which occurs annually along the 2600km reef.
In a spawning event, coral project trillions of sperm and eggs for fertilisation in what Mr Phillips describes as "an explosion of colour".
Coral spawning continues despite the bleaching effect of warmer waters and give hope to biologists that the Great Barrier Reef can regenerate
It is set to occur on the reef off Cairns during a 72 hour window from Tuesday depending on weather, current and water temperature.
Coral species spawn on different nights, with some events lasting up to three hours.
Mr Phillips - who has 20 years' experience and researched the reef for a decade - says the crew will record and study three reef areas to see which species is regenerating.
'It is like an annual stocktake of what species are
