A snap of Lady Elliot Island taken as part of the worldwide Catlin Seaview Survey. Contributed
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Survey team creates database of coral reef degradation
PANORAMIC images of the waters around Lady Elliot Island will help scientists across the world understand changes in coral reefs.
The images were launched this week as part of the Catlin Global Reef Record, an online database and research system of major reef systems.
Catlin Global Reef Record chief scientist, professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg said up to half of coral worldwide would have been lost in the past five decades.
"Our oceans are in an unprecedented state of decline due to pollution, over-fishing and climate change," he said.
The data archive would help governments better protect coral reefs through information and analysis.
The Catlin Seaview team has also surveyed reefs in the Caribbean and Bermuda.
