Saving Earth's Coral Reefs with Deep Learning

Global warming and pollution are causing severe stress to coral reefs across the world. Researchers from the University of California Berkeley and University of Queensland developed a deep learning process that automatically analyzes reef photos that will help measure reef health and changes over time. Reefs provide food and shelter for more than a quarter of all marine species, and support fish stocks that feed more than a billion people and provide jobs to millions of people in coastal areas. The new technology "will allow the world's scientists to more quickly assess the health of coral reefs at scales never dreamed of before," said Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, chief scientist of the global reef record and a professor at the University of Queensland. With that information, they can more effectively take steps to protect and save them.