Coral Bleaching Reaches Alert Level 1

Reports from Coral Reef Watch, an organization that monitors ocean temperatures worldwide, have revealed that coral bleaching in the Maldives has escalated to its most dangerous level – alert level 1.

Last Friday, the country’s status was elevated to “alert level 1.” The central and southern regions of the Maldives are currently at this elevated alert level, which indicates a significant risk to coral health. 

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Coral Reef Watch employs a five-tier system to categorize bleaching severity, with alert level 1 indicating a dangerous stage and alert level 2 representing the utmost peril. 

Projections from Coral Reef Watch suggest that the Maldives could escalate to alert level 2 within the next five weeks, underscoring the situation’s urgency. Scientists are warning that this year’s bleaching event could surpass previous occurrences, with marine biologist Nizam Ibrahim expressing grave concerns.

Ibrahim, who spearheaded assessments during the 2016 bleaching incident, emphasized the impending severity. “Compared to the 2016 mass bleaching event, (the current situation is) very severe as the warmest days are still ahead.”

Coral bleaching occurs due to stress on coral reefs, leading them to expel symbiotic algae and turn white. This stress is attributed to global warming and its subsequent impact on sea levels. 

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) have classified the current bleaching event as the world’s fourth global mass coral bleaching event.

The 2016 bleaching event is the most significant occurrence in recent history, with a staggering 73% of Maldivian corals affected, according to a report by the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI).