Coral survey records widest bleaching in a decade along Costa Mar reef

A joint survey conducted this month by the Puerto Azul Marine Institute and the federal Ministry of Natural Patrimony has found bleaching across an estimated 40 percent of Costa Mar's monitored reef corridor, the largest affected area recorded since the 2015 thermal event.

The survey team covered roughly 180 kilometres of coastline over three weeks, using underwater transects and drone-assisted surface mapping. Lead researcher Dr. Camila Fuentes said the data pointed to sustained sea-surface temperatures running one to two degrees above the seasonal average since late April.

Bleaching does not immediately kill coral, but prolonged thermal stress can prevent recovery and leave reefs vulnerable to algal overgrowth and disease. The institute has flagged several zones near the Punta Serena headland as requiring immediate protective measures.

The Regional Assembly's Environment Committee is scheduled to convene an emergency session next week to consider a temporary ban on anchoring within the most affected zones. How the federal government in Meridian responds to the institute's formal request for emergency conservation funding will shape what Costa Mar can do in the weeks ahead.