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Lakshadweep’s Coral Crisis and the Global Picture
Lakshadweep’s coral reefs have halved in last 24 years — and they need time to recover
Context: A groundbreaking 24-year study has revealed a sobering truth: coral reefs in the Lakshadweep Archipelago have lost over 50% of their live coral cover since 1998. Published in Diversity and Distributions in July 2025, the research highlights the devastating impact of repeated marine heatwaves and underscores the urgent need for climate action to preserve these fragile ecosystems.
What is the Significance of Coral Reefs?
- Rainforest of Sea: Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea. Despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, they support 25% of all marine life, offering shelter, breeding grounds, and food for thousands of species.
- Coastal Protection: Reefs act as natural barriers, absorbing wave energy and reducing erosion, storm damage, and flooding.
- Economic Value: Coral reefs contribute billions to global economies through tourism, fisheries, and marine exports.
- Food Security: Over 500 million people rely on reef fisheries for protein and livelihood.
- Medicinal Potential: Reef organisms are being studied for treatments for cancer, arthritis, and bacterial infections.
- Carbon Sequestration: Coral reefs help regulate the global carbon cycle by trapping carbon in their calcium carbonate skeletons.
Which Regions of the World Are Rich in Coral Reefs?
- Coral Reefs are large underwater structures primarily composed of living hard coral colonies and are primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions.
- The “Coral Triangle”—encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands—is the global epicentre of coral diversity. Other major reef regions include:
- The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) – the world’s largest reef system.
- Caribbean Sea – includes the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
- Red Sea – known for heat-tolerant coral species.
- Maldives, Lakshadweep, and Chagos Archipelago – Indian Ocean reef systems.
Why Coral Reefs Are Declining?
- The decline of coral reefs is driven by a combination of global climate stressors and local human activities:
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Climate Change:
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- Marine Heatwaves: Elevated sea temperatures cause coral bleaching, where corals expel their symbiotic algae and starve.
- Ocean Acidification: Increased CO₂ lowers ocean pH, weakening coral skeletons and slowing growth.
- Frequent Bleaching Events: Reefs now face heat stress every 6 years or less, leaving little time for recovery.
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Local Stressors:
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- Pollution: Agricultural runoff, sewage, and plastics smother corals and promote harmful algal blooms.
- Overfishing: Removal of herbivorous fish disrupts reef balance, allowing algae to overtake corals.
- Destructive Tourism: Anchors, trampling, and sunscreen chemicals damage reef structures.
- Coastal Development: Sedimentation from construction clouds water and suffocates coral polyps.
