World Parts of Great Barrier Reef record highest number of coral in nearly 4 decades, scientists say August 4, 2022 Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Comments Off on Parts of Great Barrier Reef record highest number of coral in nearly 4 decades, scientists say A survey found that between August 2021 and May 2022, average hard coral cover in two areas of the Great Barrier Reef increased by about one-third.