WASHINGTON D.C. (15 April 2024) – NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) sound the alarm #ForCoral; The world is currently experiencing its fourth global coral bleaching event, the second in a decade.
Bleaching must be confirmed within each Ocean basin to make a final determination of a global bleaching event. Heat stress driven by rising ocean temperatures has been confirmed across reefs in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans, Red Sea and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden.
Coral bleaching has been recorded in over 53 nations since early 2023 including Florida (U.S.A), Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Samoas, Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Tromelin, Mayotte, the western coast of Indonesia and Brazil.
However, bleached coral does not always result in mortality! And corals can recover if the bleaching-induced stressors diminish. This global event requires global action and ICRI and its members continue to advance coral interventions and restoration in the face of climate change. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network also provides a critical mechanism for monitoring the impact of bleaching on coral reefs.
Download the Press Release, available in English, French and Spanish, and access supporting media at: www.icriforum.org/4gbe
ICRI will also be hosting a webinar on Tuesday 14th May to discuss the status of the 4th Global Bleaching Event, and the role of the global coral reef community. Register your interest to attend by using the button below.
