Are coral reefs dying?

Tropical coral reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystems on earth, giving shelter to thousands of animal species. Many people depend on fisheries, tourism and coastal protection provided by healthy coral reefs. Yet today, coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate all around the globe. read more

"The corals in the remote far north of the reef experienced extremely hot and still conditions this summer, and were effectively bathed in warm water for months, creating heat stress that they could no longer cope with," Russell Reichelt, the chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, said in a statement. read more

Coral die-offs—caused by a process known as bleaching—tend to look as bland and lifeless, in contrast to the vibrant rainbow colors of thriving coral. Bleached coral reefs usually appear as an endless stretch of white coral and eventually turn to dead brown coral. read more

Coral reefs are dying Tropical coral reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystems on earth, giving shelter to thousands of animal species. Many people depend on fisheries, tourism and coastal protection provided by healthy coral reefs. read more