Page 13 - Livre_MOW2022_EN

CORALS, THE EXPOSED NERVES OF THE OCEAN | 11

DATES

Prior to 1995
Coral cover was relatively stable

1998
st
Would it not be possible to assess coral cover 1 mass bleaching
2
faster by satellite and to monitor it in real time? (- 8% of coral cover, 6,500 km )
It is indeed possible to assess some aspects of co-
ral reef health using satellites and remote sensing, 2002-2009
such as the extent and localisation of coral reefs, Coral cover increase
the overall composition of individual reefs (i.e. areas 2009-2018
of coral, algae, sand etc.), and even signs of coral 2 bleaching events
bleaching. However, to date, our satellites are not (2010 and 2016, - 14% of coral cover,
able to determine accurately the health aspects of close to 12,000 km )
2
reefs, or the composition of coral species, and cer-
tainly cannot monitor fish. To do that, we need to 2019
enlist the services of divers or use other technology Signs of localised coral regrowth (+0,7 %)
(cameras fixed to boats or underwater vehicles).
1983-2019
Were you surprised by some of the report’s +4% of coral cover in the Coral Triangle, Southeast Asia
conclusions, such as the difference between
regions?
I was surprised by some trends which we observed
in the data. To be honest, I thought that the average
global cover of hard coral would be much lower
than it actually was. I was delighted to see that all
was certainly not lost and that there was still hope
for the world’s coral reefs.

This report appears to treat the grim scenario of
the inevitable disappearance of corals by 2100
with circumspection. Does this give reason for
hope?
The report showed that global coral reefs are under
pressure, in particular due to rising sea tempera-
tures associated with climate change, and that on
average, global reef status is in decline. However,
the report also showed that on average, global reef
status is better than we would have believed, and
that they have maintained their capacity to recover.
This resilience obviously gives us reason for hope,
but it is also a reminder that the window for action
to fight climate change is closing and that, as a glo-
bal community, we should endeavour to maintain
this resilience in order to offer a future to reefs all
over the world.

© Hiroko-Yoshii _ Unsplash