Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:44am on 06 May 2024,Monday Weather & Environment
The Lakshadweep Sea is experiencing a widespread coral bleaching event due to ongoing heatwaves, reports by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Surveys show a significant portion of hard coral species have undergone severe bleaching, caused by prolonged marine heatwaves since October 2023. The Degree Heating Week (DHW) indicator has surpassed 4°C-weeks, posing a substantial risk to coral health and threatening the region's diverse marine ecosystems. If the DHW continues to rise, it could lead to a catastrophic biodiversity crisis, warns senior scientist K R Sreenath, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
