CORAL BLEACHING IN LAAMU

Coral bleaching endangers the fragile ecosystems of the reefs of Laamu Atoll in the Maldives. The turquoise seas and teeming marine life of the Maldives atolls are, the atolls are especially vulnerable to the effects of rising ocean temperatures and environmental pressures. Coral bleaching happens when corals eject the algae that live in their tissues, turning them white and making them susceptible to disease and death.

This phenomena threatens not just the natural beauty of the Laamu Atolls, but also the livelihoods of local residents that rely on tourism and fishing. Urgent conservation initiatives, such as lowering carbon emissions and establishing sustainable reef management methods, are critical to ensuring the future of these vital marine ecosystems. In response to the growing threat of coral bleaching in Laamu Atoll, the MUI team has increased efforts to monitor and understand the scale of bleaching here in Laamu. Using advanced technologies such as drone as well as in-water surveys, we are undertaking comprehensive assessments of coral health and bleaching trends across the atoll’s reefs.

Drones provide high-resolution overhead imagery, allowing us to quickly cover large reef regions, and in-water surveys provide comprehensive, direct assessments of coral condition. Furthermore, photo-quadrats in coral research and bleaching studies provide a consistent way for quantitatively measuring coral reef health and composition over time, providing critical data on changes such as bleaching episodes and coral mortality rates. By combining these technologies, we hope to get reliable data to track bleaching, identify vulnerable areas, and inform targeted conservation strategies.