In a stark warning about the future of marine ecosystems, a global wildlife authority has classified 96 % of the world’s shallow‑water coral reefs as critically endangered, signalling that almost all of these habitats face imminent extinction.
The assessment, released by the organisation in a recent study, highlights the severe decline of coral reef systems worldwide. While the report does not list specific locations, it underscores the widespread threat to these vital marine environments.
Coral reefs support a large proportion of ocean biodiversity and provide essential services to coastal communities, including food security and protection against storm surges. The high level of risk identified by the authority raises concerns about the long‑term health of these ecosystems.
Experts say that the findings reflect a combination of factors such as rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, overfishing and pollution. The study calls for urgent conservation measures to halt further degradation and to protect the remaining reefs.
For more details on the study and its implications, readers can refer to the full report issued by the wildlife authority and related analyses from marine conservation organisations.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
