Coral reefs may contain more fish overall, but neighbouring seagrass meadows can provide considerably more of the species that matter most for feeding coastal communities, according to new research.

Scientists studying fish communities from Kenya to Mozambique found that seagrass-associated fish provided a richer combination of essential micronutrients than those associated with nearby coral reefs. For three of the region's most important food-fish species, the potential nutritional contribution was more than eight times greater in seagrass meadows.

For decades, marine scientists regarded clear, warm, nutrient-poor tropical waters as the essential ingredients for healthy coral reefs. Murky harbours, sediment-laden coastlines and industrial ports were generally seen as hostile environments where corals could only survive with difficulty. A growing body of research is beginning to challenge that view.

A new international study, led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, suggests that rising ocean temperatures may directly interfere with the microscopic cilia that corals use to circulate oxygen-rich water across their surfaces. The findings add a new layer to scientific understanding of why corals become stressed and die during marine heatwaves.

Recent discussion in the media and scientific community has focused on claims that the world’s coral reefs have already crossed a thermal tipping point—an irreversible threshold beyond which widespread collapse is inevitable. While there is no doubt that reefs face unprecedented thermal stress, three newly published studies offer a more nuanced, cautiously optimistic perspective.

A climate tipping point is a critical threshold in the Earth’s natural systems where a small change can cause significant and irreversible consequences, leading to a cascade of global impacts. Other examples include the melting of polar ice sheets, the dieback of the Amazon rainforest, and the collapse of vital ocean currents. These events have the potential to cause food system breakdowns, rapidly raise sea levels, and accelerate global warming. 

A synchronised sea

To the lucky diver who witnesses it, coral spawning looks almost magical, a slow underwater blizzard, soft and dreamlike. But behind the beauty lies a great mystery: How do millions of individual corals, spread over vast distances, all know when to spawn?

Scientists say some sites have lost more than 90 percent of their living coral, with the Rowley Shoals—once a dream destination for pristine reef dives—among the hardest hit.

“When you have more than about 75% of corals that have bleached or died, it can be very hard to find any healthy corals.”

^{— Dr James Gilmour, senior researcher, Australian Institute of Marine Science}

The commitment was launched during a high-level event co-hosted by Papua New Guinea, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). It represents a milestone in international marine conservation, aligning with global biodiversity goals set for 2030.

The voluntary pledge targets climate-resilient coral reefs—those naturally better equipped to withstand rising temperatures and ocean changes. These reefs are seen as vital to future restoration efforts and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for coastal populations.