COPENHAGEN: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that the mass bleaching of coral reefs worldwide, which began in February 2023, is now the most extensive on record. A staggering 77% of the world's coral reef areas—from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Indian oceans—have experienced bleaching-level heat stress, driven by climate change and record ocean temperatures.
NOAA Coral Reef Watch coordinator Derek Manzello stated, 'This event is still increasing in spatial extent, and we've broken the previous record by more than 11% in about half the amount of time.' This unprecedented event could have severe ramifications for coral reefs' ability to recover.
Declared in April 2024, this global bleaching event is the fourth since 1998, surpassing the previous record where just below 66% of reefs were affected. Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the colorful algae that sustain them, leaving them vulnerable to starvation and disease.
Bleaching has been confirmed in Palau, Guam, and Israel, with high heat stress also reported in the Caribbean and South China Sea. Scientists have called for an emergency session at the upcoming United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity summit (COP16) in Colombia to discuss strategies for coral protection.