In the long run,
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Coral reefs are the rich, bustling urban crossroads of the life of the ocean. They are also sensitive to heatwaves that are too hot for too long, bleaching them out and killing them. If cooler waters arrive in time, they can grow back.
In 2024, a heatwave bleached reefs around the world. The Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest, about the size of Germany – had its largest bleaching in 40 years of recorded history. In 2025, still more square miles were lost.
That’s the bad news. The better news is that 2026 saw the reef spring back to the point that it may be at its most extensive reach ever.
The marine biologists who monitor the reef system are not exactly giddy. They see a new normal of wide swings year to year from bleachings to growth surges. And the coral that surges is a bit like the dandelions of the coral world, they pop up fast and spread readily, but they are delicate. The metaphorical bushes and trees of the reef take longer to establish themselves.
Another critical ecosystem at the ocean’s edge, mangroves, have also made a comeback in the past few years after decades of decline. They now are slightly more extensive than ever recorded.
One more sign of recovery in the beach zone: the once-endangered giant tortoises of the Seychelles Islands are now up to about 180,000 and outnumber people on the islands.
Sources: Australian Institute of Marine Science via The Conversation; Financial Post; Global Mangrove Watch; The Guardian