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
In July, divers aboard the Turks & Caicos Explorer Il did more than explore the islands' incredible underwater beauty-they suited up to help protect it.
The latest RumPowered® Research Expedition, organized by the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund in partnership with Explorer Ventures Fleet, brought together passionate divers for a hands-on marine science experience focused on reef restoration and sustainability.
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.
Greece has enacted its first-ever legal framework to protect deep-sea coral ecosystems in the Aegean Sea. This initiative targets vulnerable coral habitats at depths beyond 50 metres, aiming to prevent damage from fishing gear and other human activities.
Treatment options for coral reefs stricken with tissue loss diseases often involve antibiotic treatments that can have an adverse impact on the surrounding environment and can lead to increased antibiotic resistance.
An international team of researchers have developed an alternative treatment in the form of a paste made from chlorine and cocoa butter. Their findings were recently published in the Frontiers in Marine Science journal.
In particular, these dead skeletons can foster macroalgae growth, which compete with corals for space and resources and ultimately hinder coral regrowth.
Coral reefs are among the planet’s most vital ecosystems, yet they face increasing threats from climate change, including bleaching events and destructive storms. A new study by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) sheds light on the crucial role of connectivity between coral communities in helping reefs recover and adapt to environmental challenges.
In a new study, researchers have discovered that corals need to be within a few metres apart to successfully reproduce.
“In what came as a surprise, we saw that corals needed to be within 10 metres of one another, and preferably closer than that for fertilisation to take place,” Professor Peter Mumby, from The University of Queensland, said.
This proximity requirement is much closer than previously thought.
The latest reports from organisations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and UN Environment Programme report that about 50% of the world's coral reefs are considered damaged or at risk of collapse, with some estimates suggesting that we could lose up to 90% of coral reefs by 2050 if current trends continue. This is a staggering figure when considering the ecological and economic importance of coral reefs.
