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Apr 23 2025
2In a stark reflection of the ongoing climate crisis, 84% of the world’s coral reefs are now suffering from the most severe bleaching event in recorded history, according to the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). This event, which began in 2023, marks the fourth global coral bleaching incident since 1998. It has already surpassed the previous bleaching event of 2014-17, which impacted roughly two-thirds of reefs globally.
The primary cause of this alarming rise in bleaching is the warming of ocean temperatures, which reached a new high in 2023, contributing to the most extreme heat stress coral reefs have ever faced. Mark Eakin, the former coral monitoring chief for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), noted that the situation is drastically altering the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. He emphasized that the elevated temperatures may soon become a permanent condition, leading to a complete shift in ocean life and the services it provides to human communities.
Corals rely on symbiotic algae that live within their tissues to obtain nutrients. However, when water temperatures become too high, these algae release toxins, forcing corals to expel them. This process leaves behind a stark white skeleton, signaling the death or decline of the coral. Without these algae, corals become increasingly vulnerable to disease and death, with cascading effects on the biodiversity that coral reefs support. These reefs are home to nearly 25% of all marine species, making their health vital to the overall well-being of the ocean’s ecosystems.
In response to the growing crisis, NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program has expanded its bleaching alert scale to reflect the growing risk to coral reefs, indicating that the potential for coral death is more immediate than ever. The event has prompted renewed calls for urgent conservation efforts, including restoration programs aimed at cultivating coral fragments for future repopulation of depleted reefs.
A number of innovative projects are already underway to address the immediate impact of the bleaching. One notable effort involves a Dutch laboratory that is working with coral fragments, including specimens from the Seychelles, to propagate and grow new corals in controlled environments. These corals may one day be used to repopulate affected reefs. Similarly, in Florida, conservationists are rescuing corals that are particularly threatened by heat, nursing them back to health before reintroducing them to the ocean.
However, experts agree that these efforts, while important, are only temporary solutions. The root cause of the crisis—human-driven climate change—must be tackled head-on. Eakin and other scientists argue that reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide and methane, is essential to slowing the warming of our oceans and protecting coral reefs from further damage.
"Mitigation of climate change is the key to safeguarding coral reefs," Eakin said. "Anything else is a Band-Aid, and we need real, lasting change." Melanie McField, co-chair of the Caribbean Steering Committee for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, also underscored the need for global action. She warned that inaction would lead to the eventual collapse of coral ecosystems, which would have far-reaching consequences for marine biodiversity and human industries reliant on the oceans.
As this crisis unfolds, there is growing concern that political actions, particularly those that prioritize fossil fuel development over environmental protections, could worsen the situation. With global leaders, including former President Donald Trump, pushing for the expansion of fossil fuel industries, experts warn that the ongoing degradation of coral reefs could accelerate, leading to disastrous ecological and economic consequences.
The future of coral reefs—and the marine life they sustain—depends on global cooperation and urgent action to combat climate change.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-04-global-coral-ocean-reefs-biggest.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
