hard coral

The world’s coral reefs have lost almost 10% of their hard coral cover over the last four decades. Global assessment finds major bleaching events now strike before recovering corals can mature and reproduce

Caribbean reefs have lost 48% of hard coral since 1980, study finds. The 48% decrease in coral cover has been driven by climate breakdown, specifically marine heatwaves. They affect the microalgae that feed coral, making them toxic and forcing the coral to expel them.