Over the past decade, sea temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia have been the warmest in 400 years, according to a recent study published in the prestigious journal Nature.
The US is cancelling $35 million in debt to Indonesia in exchange for restoring and preserving coral reefs in an area that scientists say is the most biodiverse marine area in the world.
They have been blown up in nuclear tests and poisoned when people fished with cyanide. However, the absolute biggest threat to the future of coral reefs is global warming, according to researcher Fredrik Moberg.
Scientists warn that the significant coral bleaching, which the American weather agency NOAA warned about earlier this year, has spread to several places on earth.
Meet Dr. Tessa Hempson, a coral scientist dedicated to exploring and preserving the coral reefs. Tessa strives to raise awareness about marine conservation, emphasizing collective choices for our oceans' future.