Great Barrier Reef has recovered 'spectacularly' from previous disaster

Australia's Great Barrier Reef has regenerated itself to an astounding degree following a bleaching disaster three years ago, it has been claimed.

According to research conducted jointly by scientists from the University of Queensland's Centre for Marine Studies and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS), the stretch of coral that was affected by a change in sea temperatures three years ago is recovering well.

Coral around the Keppell Islands suffered from severe bleaching after a rise in sea temperatures was followed by a mass growth of reef-damaging seaweed.

However, the researchers say a "lucky combination" of three factors have come together over the last year to spur regeneration on the reef.

These were "exceptionally high regrowth of fragments of surviving coral tissue" and "an unusual season dieback in the seaweeds" as well as "the presence of highly competitive coral species, which was able to outgrow the seaweed," explained Dr Guillermo Diaz-Pulido.

In January, World Wildlife Federation spokesman Nick Heath called for stricter controlling of the use of farm chemicals around the Great Barrier Reef.