Coral Reefs Are Running Out of Time to Recover Between Bleaching Events

Coral reefs are being hit by bleaching events at increasingly short intervals, leaving many ecosystems without enough time to recover before the next period of extreme heat, according to findings reported by Reuters from the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

The assessment draws on more than four decades of observations across nearly 37,000 sites in 120 countries. It found that the typical interval between major bleaching events has fallen to roughly five or six years, while global hard-coral cover remained well below its historical average between 2020 and 2024.

Bleaching occurs when heat-stressed coral expels the algae that supplies much of its energy. Repeated episodes weaken reefs, threaten fisheries and tourism, and reduce the natural coastal protection on which many communities depend. Scientists say rapid emissions cuts must be paired with stronger local reef management if irreversible losses are to be avoided.

Source: Reuters, reporting on the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.