Home

Mass coral bleaching closes dive sites, threatens future of world’s most diverse marine region

Posted on 29 July 2010

Coral bleaching in Santelmo, Philippines

Download

Summary Document: The Coral Triangle and Climate Change: Ecosystems, People and Societies at Risk 4.94 MB pdf

Map of the Coral Triangle. Click to enlarge

Mass coral bleaching caused by global warming is threatening the health of the Coral Triangle, a vast marine region that is home to 76% of all known corals in the world.

The Malaysian government recently closed portions of world-renowned dive sties on the tropical islands of Tioman and Redang, saying they would be off limits until October to give the fragile coral reef ecosystems time to heal.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, bleaching has been reported in Anilao and Nasugbu, as well as off the cost of the western municipality of Taytay, Palawan. The latter saw corals, which usually exhibit a green and brown hue, temporarily turn unusual shades of pink, orange and yellow—a precursor to complete bleaching.

Numerous other Philippine reefs are likely to have been affected as well, exacerbated by localized outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Seastars.

Widespread bleaching has also been recorded in Indonesia, with areas near Sabang, Aceh, Padang, Thousand Island Jakarta, Bali, and other locations showing telltale signs.

“This widespread bleaching is alarming because it directly affects the health of our oceans and their ability to nurture fish stocks and other marine resources on which millions of people depend for food and income” says Richard Leck, Climate Change Strategy Leader of the WWF Coral Triangle Programme.

Coral bleaching is a phenomenon caused by global warming. Increased seawater temperatures, which in some regions have grown as much as 2°C above the long-term average maximum, can push the algae living inside corals beyond the brink, causing reefs to eventually turn white and die.

Aside from increased sea temperatures, other causes of stress include disease, pollution, sedimentation, cyanide fishing, changes in salinity, and storms.

The Coral Triangle region covers the seas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. This nursery of the seas contains more than 600 species of reef-building coral.

Since March this year, about 50 different organizations and individuals have reported signs of coral bleaching in the Coral Triangle region. Up to 100% bleaching on susceptible coral species have been reported, and in some areas, severe bleaching has also affected the more resistant species.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch stated that the current incident is the worst of it kind since 1997-1998, which decimated 16% of the world’s coral reefs.

With many areas showing signs of mass bleaching, it has become apparent that more weight needs to be put behind long-term conservation strategies, such as marine protected area management, preventing coastal and marine pollution, as well as promoting sustainable fisheries.

“Well-designed and appropriately-managed networks of marine protected areas and locally managed marine areas are essential to enhance resilience against climate change, and prevent further loss of biodiversity, including fisheries collapse” Leck also added.

Through new sustainable finance mechanisms and investments in climate adaptation, WWF plans to support networks of marine sanctuaries and locally managed conservation areas across the Coral Triangle.

Improving fisheries management also an important step

Better fisheries management is also key to alleviating the impacts of coral bleaching, ensuring that only viable sites are given access to fishing and that the more sensitive ones are given time to recuperate via strong regulations, enforcement and awareness.

In Malaysia, for instance, WWF is promoting the conservation of herbivorous reef fish, which plays a critical role of keeping algae populations lower, allowing room for coral recruits to settle on the potentially newly-dead coral skeletons..

Only a year ago, WWF launched The Coral Triangle and Climate Change: Ecosystems, People and Societies at Risk, a report based on a thorough consideration of the climate biology, economics and social characteristics of the region, showing how unchecked climate change will ultimately undermine and destroy ecosystems and livelihoods in the Coral Triangle.

Comments

Scott C

September 7, 2010 - 07:17

Anyone who appreciates the beauty of the undersea world, and regularly spends time underwater in the coral triangle, knows this is really happening. Only a very small percentage of the worlds population will ever put on a mask and experience the amazing glory of a healthy coral reef ecosystem (out of sight out of mind).

Human ignorance and selfishness will destroy the world for short term gain and personal profit- this seems inevitable. Demand for seafood and minerals in China to feed an increasingly wealthy population and growing industry alone will suck the Philippines dry leaving a wasteland of dead reefs and raped land.

I can not imagine a world without marine life- it is to depressing to imagine- so it is with great grief and helpless anxiety that I ask what can I do to at least save at least one small oasis of marine life with my modest resources. As Friedman described, we need 1,000,000 Noahs and 1,000,000 arks before its too late.

In conclusion, it is my opinion is that the strategy should be 3 fold: 1) Resources should devoted to the education of the younger generations on the consequence of destructive practices and importance of preserving/managing marine life; 2) immediately 5% of the healthiest/largest/most diverse coral reef habitats geographically distributed across the Coral Triangle should be identified and set aside as absolutely protected Marine Protected Area's funded by private entities in partnerships with the local communities who reside at the MPA borders; 3) and perhaps the most difficult objective to achieve will be to convince the general populations within the countries of the Coral Triangle that these resources are worth making personal sacrifices to save, that the people who break well designed laws designed to protect the coral reefs should be harshly punished regardless of income level or political office - no exceptions.

Jimmy

August 19, 2010 - 11:21

Aside from all "possible" causes for coral-bleaching mentioned before, and altough 'the only thing you take are pictures and leave nothing' is a golden rule and an unwritten law for real scuba-divers, stop people taking corals from the reefs isn't gonna salve the problem.

You're absolutely right by saying: 'the problem is not just bleaching, but the people itself'
so the next time you start your car, by a ticket for an airplane or switch on the light etc. etc. think of what you have sayed, not only you - but we all should.
The main reasons for bleaching are; increasing watertemperatures, which make the algae living inside the coral and responseble for additional nutrition disappear, and the amound of carbondioxide in the air which is responseble for a pH drop in the water.
That inturn makes the calciumcarbonate, of which the the skeleton is build, dissolve.

And this my dear friends, is what it's al about.

Mathias Eick

August 4, 2010 - 12:47

I also observed extensive coral bleaching on a recent (late July 2010) dive trip to Koh Tao, Thailand. Locals reported that about 2 months ago water temperatures rose to about 32 degrees centigrate. Currently the water temperature is down too about 28 degrees but recovery will take a long time...

T. Za. Magazini

August 3, 2010 - 19:34

Global warming at all costs must be restrained to 2 degrees, otherwise after 50 years there will be no fish in the ocean

Marcos Freire

August 2, 2010 - 15:30

I always thought that white coral was dead. Are the bleached coral not dead? How can it recover from bleaching?

Peter P

July 30, 2010 - 10:43

We were just coming from the North Male Atoll and have seen a lot of bleeched corals here to but most of the visited reefs are still OK.!
Watertemperatures were about 28 -29 and this seemsok. But it was up to 32 a few weeks ago we heard.
Save the reefs!!!

andhu

July 30, 2010 - 09:19

I am from the Maldives, recently i have seen the bleaching stared in new areas of the Maldives. Should take action today to improve the heath of coral.

Mohd Hafizil Izuan Mohmad Nazir

July 30, 2010 - 01:59

the problem is not just bleacing, but the people itself. i've seen tourist who took coral as souveniour when they go scuba or ever snorkeling! Please wake up people! Stop damaging the ocean!

Angel C

July 29, 2010 - 20:48

It's about time. You should see the damage in person along the islands & reefs of "Phi Phi, Krabi etc. in Thailand, Pulau Redang, Perhentian islands, Tioman" etc. in Malaysia. I've not been to the Maldives lately and God knows what its like out there with global warming & all other environmental issues, irresponsible tourists etc.