The findings demonstrate the potential of combined management strategies to protect coral reefs. The human impacts analysed included urban runoff, wastewater pollution and fishing restrictions. Throughout the study period coral reef cover increased in some areas, decreased or remained stable. Reefs with mitigated land- and sea-based human impacts showed increased coral cover before the heatwave and reduced coral loss during the heatwave. “Our results reveal that integrated land-sea management could help achieve coastal ocean conservation goals and provide coral reefs with the best opportunity to persist in our changing climate,” they write.

Source: The Hindu August 12, 2023 18:46 UTC