Science
Photo by Ryan Pernofski
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What Does El Niño Mean for Coral Reefs?
In 1997-8, a powerful El Niño event spread across the Pacific Ocean, driving record-breaking sea surface temperatures and triggering the first documented global coral bleaching event. Reefs from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean experienced widespread stress, and in some regions, significant coral mortality followed. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this…
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![Coral Diversity, Where Adaptation Begins [Photo Gallery]](https://static.coral.org/uploads/2026/04/Cover-by-Ocean-Image-Bank-Noemi-Merz-scaled.jpg)
Coral Diversity, Where Adaptation Begins [Photo Gallery]
Think of a coral reef as a bustling city, full of unique homes, buildings, and landscapes. And with that, unique residents who all serve different purposes. This diversity is key to any city. The same is true underwater. The diversity of corals—along with the fish, invertebrates, and algae that live among them—is what keeps reef…
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From Ridge to Reef, Science to Action Across Maui Nui
Over the past year, we helped transform science into impact, growing research and relationships into measurable, on-the-ground impact. Across Maui Nui, the health of coral reefs begins far upstream. What happens on land—how water moves through wetlands and lo‘i, how coastlines are stewarded and managed, and how communities cherish their resources—directly shapes what reaches the…
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How Snapshot Assessments Shape CORAL’s Next Chapter
By now, you’ve heard CORAL is in growth mode, and we’re determined to make our expansion meaningful and lasting. Our team is going to great lengths to figure out exactly where we’ll go next. And it goes far beyond spinning a globe and picking a spot at random. I sat down with our Strategic Impact…
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Clean Water for Reefs – How Your Donation Makes A Difference
Why is clean water integral to our mission? To save coral reefs, we must address two major threats: poor water quality from land-based pollution and unsustainable fishing practices. By tackling these issues and implementing climate-smart planning, we can help coral reefs adapt to climate change. Our research shows that this is not only possible but…
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Major Water Quality Issues Plaguing Coral Reefs Today
Can you imagine being constantly forced to drink, swim, and bathe in dirty, polluted water? It’s a harsh reality for many humans, yet ironically, our actions subject coral reefs to the same grim conditions. Water quality threats are a major culprit in coral decline. Among the various contaminants, untreated wastewater or sewage emerges as a…
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Why Clean Water is Vital for the Future of Our Oceans
As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, the health of our oceans remains a critical concern. Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet’s surface and are integral to life on Earth. However, the future of these vast, life-sustaining waters are increasingly threatened. Ensuring our oceans are clean is not just an environmental issue…
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Coral Restoration Alone Likely Won’t Be Enough to Save Coral Reefs. That’s Why We Focus on Reducing Marine Threats
Why don’t we focus on coral restoration? It’s a question we, at CORAL, have been asked time and time again. We address overfishing, minimize water pollution, support local communities, and lead cutting-edge research on coral adaptation to climate change…but we don’t generally work on coral restoration projects. Our decision comes down to the fact that…
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What is Coral Restoration, and Can it Save Coral Reefs?
Can coral restoration save coral reefs? We hear this question a lot at the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL). It’s a good question and a complex one. Let’s dive deeper into the nuances of restoration. What is coral restoration? Coral restoration refers to a set of conservation techniques aimed at helping degraded coral reefs recover by…