An underwater blizzard: the Great Barrier Reef begins its great spawning

For a few nights each year off Magnetic Island, Queensland, the reef does something no single creature could plan: millions of coral egg-and-sperm bundles rise together toward the surface in what scientists call an underwater blizzard, seeding the next generation of the world's largest reef system. This year's spawning marks 45 years since synchronised mass spawning was first recorded in 1981 — and 45 years since the Reef joined the UNESCO World Heritage List. The science it inspired matters far beyond the spectacle: Professor Peter Harrison's spawning research led to coral IVF, growing larvae in floating pools to reseed damaged reefs, a technique now used around the world.

SDG 14 · Life below water