Environment & Climate
Global coral reef coverage faces risk of irreversible decline, monitoring group reports
Increasingly frequent ocean bleaching events are depriving coral reefs of the time needed to recover, according to a new report.
The short version
- A Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network report warns that global coral coverage is on a steep downward trajectory, risking permanent loss.
- The frequency of bleaching events has roughly doubled, preventing coral systems from recovering between occurrences.
- A record 77% of the world's coral reef areas were affected by bleaching in 2023, with scientists warning another severe event is highly probable this year.
Key facts
- The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network released a report warning that global coral reef coverage faces potential irreversible decline.[Al Jazeera]
- Lead author Manuel Gonzalez Rivero stated that the frequency of coral bleaching events has roughly doubled, leaving reefs insufficient time to recover.[Al Jazeera]
- The 2023 bleaching event affected 77 percent of global coral reef areas, marking the largest extent on record.[Al Jazeera]
- Coral cover globally remained relatively stable for 40 years before entering a steep decline starting in 2010.[Al Jazeera]
- Coral reefs occupy under 1 percent of the ocean floor but support over a quarter of all marine life.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- Researchers note that another widespread bleaching event is very likely this year due to elevated ocean temperatures, though exact locations and severity remain to be seen.[Al Jazeera]