By Holobionics - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
The detrimental bleaching of coral reefs worldwide has escalated to affect 84 percent of the ocean’s reefs during the most severe event of its kind ever recorded, as announced by the International Coral Reef Initiative on Wednesday. This marks the fourth global bleaching event since 1998, surpassing the bleaching that occurred from 2014 to 2017, which impacted approximately two-thirds of reefs. The current crisis, attributed to rising ocean temperatures and which commenced in 2023, has an uncertain conclusion.
Mark Eakin, executive secretary of the International Coral Reef Society and former coral monitoring chief at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), indicated that we may never witness a reduction in heat stress below the threshold that triggers a global bleaching event. Eakin emphasized that we are witnessing a profound transformation of our planet and the oceans’ capacity to support life and livelihoods.
Last year was recorded as the hottest year on Earth, with much of the heat absorbed by the oceans, resulting in an unprecedented average annual sea surface temperature of 20.87 degrees Celsius in areas away from the poles. This temperature is lethal for corals, which play a crucial role in seafood production, tourism, and coastal protection against erosion and storms. Coral reefs, often referred to as the rainforests of the sea, are vital for biodiversity, housing approximately 25 percent of all marine species. The vibrant colors of corals are derived from the colorful algae that inhabit them, serving as a food source.
However, prolonged heat causes these algae to release toxic substances, leading to their expulsion by the corals, which results in a stark white skeleton being left behind and increases the risk of coral mortality. The severity of the bleaching event has prompted NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program to enhance its bleaching alert scale to reflect the escalating threat of coral death.
Efforts are being made to conserve and restore coral ecosystems. A laboratory in the Netherlands has been working with coral fragments, including some sourced from the Seychelles, to cultivate them in a controlled environment, with the aim of potentially repopulating natural coral reefs in the future. Additionally, various initiatives, such as one in Florida, focus on rescuing corals that are threatened by elevated temperatures and rehabilitating them before reintroducing them to their natural habitat. However, scientists emphasize the critical need to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, which contribute to global warming.
The most effective strategy for safeguarding coral reefs involves tackling the fundamental causes of climate change, which necessitates a reduction in human-generated emissions primarily resulting from fossil fuel combustion; otherwise, all other efforts may merely serve as temporary fixes, as noted by Eakin. Melanie McField, co-chair of the Caribbean Steering Committee for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, highlighted the urgency for individuals to acknowledge their impact, stating that inaction poses a significant threat to coral reefs.
This update coincides with President Donald Trump’s aggressive push during his second term to promote fossil fuel development and dismantle clean energy initiatives, which he argues are essential for economic progress. Eakin remarked on the current government’s efforts to undermine these vital ecosystems, warning that the removal of protective measures will lead to catastrophic outcomes.
