First report in 13 years shows damaging effect of warming ocean
The largest global analysis of coral reef health ever undertaken indicates that rising ocean temperatures resulted in a 14% loss of global corals.
The Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020offsite link report from NOAA and partners around the world also found indications of coral resilience in some locations, offering hope that coral reefs can recover if immediate steps are taken to curb future ocean warming.
“People around the world depend on healthy coral reefs and the services they provide for food, income, recreation, and protection from storms,” said Jennifer Koss, director of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. “It is possible to turn the tide on the losses we are seeing, but doing so relies on us as a global community making more environmentally conscious decisions in our everyday lives.”
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