Coral spawning program hailed a great success for reef

Scientists are using the world's largest coral spawning event to protect the Great Barrier Reef. (HANDOUT/CALYPSO PRODUCTIONS)

A capacity building program for coral has been hailed a success by scientists on the Great Barrier Reef during its annual spawning event.

Over two nights on the Queensland coastline, scientists and tourism operators gathered on the water in the darkness to observe the annual coral spawn phenomenon, which is triggered by a full moon and warm water temperatures.