Coral Reefs on the Brink: Bleaching Threatens Oceans and Communities

By Violet Cho

Coral reefs, vibrant cities under the sea, are facing extinction. Corals are complex, underwater ecosystems built by colonies of tiny marine creatures called coral polyps, and they secrete hard calcium carbonate skeletons over time to form massive structures. These structures, found mostly in shallow tropical waters, provide sheltering and nourishment for a quarter of all marine life despite covering only 0.1% of this planet. They are built through a delicate coexistence between the algae (zooxanthellae)  that live in their tissues. The main cause of their endangerment is coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is the process where corals, under environmental stress, expel the colorful algae living in their tissues and turn white. The most common cause is sea temperatures rising due to climate change. While bleached corals are not the same as being dead, they are weakened, starving, and more susceptible to diseases. If things don’t change, corals might be facing extinction very soon.

Coral bleaching isn’t just a solitary problem. It brings about much more disastrous results in various aspects. As mentioned before, coral reefs support immense proportions of the marine ecosystem. Coral bleaching can lead to huge losses of biodiversity and disruption of food chains in the marine environment. According to UNEP(United Nations Environment Programme) the mass bleaching event this year has affected reefs of all major ocean basins around the world, affecting more than 82 countries. The decline doesn’t stop underwater. Coral reefs act as barriers against erosion for coastlines. They act as natural infrastructure that absorb over 85% of the wave energy, providing a natural shield for shorelines and communities. Without coral reefs functioning as natural barriers, coastlines will be more vulnerable to tsunamis, storms, and hurricanes, too. With the corals rapidly declining, coastal erosion can threaten human infrastructure, properties, and entire communities. 

Apart from the ecological impacts, continuous coral bleaching can also bring disastrous blows in the local economy. As mentioned before, coral reefs sustain 25% of the entire marine ecosystem. They provide food, shelter, and protection to many species. If they start vanishing, fisheries will undoubtedly start declining. Local fishermen that rely on the ocean for a living will be impoverished by the decline. Also, as can be observed from the Great Barrier Reef in Western Australia, coral reefs support local tourism substantially by attracting tourists from all over the world with their majestic beauties, sports activities like snorkeling, scuba diving and such. According to Queensland Tourism& Events, the Great Barrier Reef contributes about $6.4 billion to the Australian economy every year, and supports over 64,000 jobs. Without it, Australian Economies are sure to suffer a huge loss. 

At this moment, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia is going through its 6th mass bleaching event since its first in 2016. Other renowned reefs around the world are no different. The NOAA(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Coral Reef Watch reports that coral bleaching has impacted 84% of the world's coral reef area, making the current bleaching event the largest on record. Immediate action should be taken to prevent further calamities.

First of all, rapid cuts to greenhouse gas emissions should be made immediately. According to the Great Barrier Reef foundation, they are the primary roots of global warming and the rise of ocean temperatures, the main cause of coral bleaching. This includes environmental changes such as the implementation of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, enforcing stricter emission regulations on industries. By addressing emissions we create safer marine ecosystems, preserving coral reefs, and also slow down climate change.

Second, direct action must be taken to fight coral bleaching. Many organizations and scientists like the Coral Restoration foundation are exploring technologies to restore and protect reefs. The key approach is coral gardening and reef restoration, where healthy corals are grown in nurseries and controlled environments and planted back onto the damaged reefs to prevent deterioration and help recovery. Another method called selective breeding is being utilized to develop heat-resistant corals, by recognizing and cultivating species that can resist higher temperatures, in hopes to make future reef generations more immune to climate change.

Coral bleaching is not just an environmental hazard—it is a warning of the climate crisis planet Earth is facing. The losses of vibrant reefs symbolize not only the damaging of marine life but also severe outcomes in global food security, tourism, and coastal protection. Immediate action is crucial unless we want things to get any worse. When we act to protect the coral reefs, we’re not just saving ocean life. It demonstrates our will to put an end to global warming and protect our planet from everything else that ails it.