Scientists are warning that global coral reefs are undergoing bleaching events so frequent that they no longer have enough time to recover before the next one strikes.
The report, released Monday by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), states that global coral cover has fallen below normal levels and faces the risk of irreversible decline.
“If we give them enough time, they are capable of recovery,” said lead author Manuel Gonzalez Rivero, a scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. “But we haven't seen that time being granted. In fact, the frequency of bleaching events has nearly doubled.”
Bleaching occurs when corals expel the colorful algae living within their tissues. Without these algae, they become vulnerable to starvation and disease. Bleached corals are not dead, but they require time in cooler waters to recover.
According to GCRMN, since 2010, global coral cover has sharply declined after a relatively stable 40-year period. The most recent bleaching event in 2023 was the most severe ever recorded, affecting 77% of the world's reef areas. Rivero warned that a similar event is “very likely” to occur this year due to elevated global temperatures.
Coral reefs are vital indicators of global ocean health. Though they cover less than 1% of the seafloor, they are home to more than 25% of marine species.
The GCRMN warning comes as organizers of the annual Pacific Islands Forum announced that at least five leaders from the 18-member group will be absent from the summit. The Forum has long been seen as a symbol of regional unity, where pressing issues facing Pacific nations, including climate change and ocean health, are discussed.
