Roundup: Climate change decimates corals in Türkiye, prompting protective measures

“Protective interventions and conservation efforts are critical to preventing further decline and preserving the invaluable biodiversity these coral colonies sustain.”

ISTANBUL, June 8 (Xinhua) — Coral colonies across Türkiye’s seas are perishing due to the abrupt effects of climate change, threatening marine life and prompting experts to call for more protective measures.

Murat Kapikiran, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, said that Türkiye’s Mediterranean, Aegean, and Marmara waters are home to approximately 200 coral species.

Unfortunately, 15 percent of these corals have perished due to the effects of climate change, with an alarming 68 percent of the losses occurring in recent years, coinciding with the observed escalation of climate change globally, Kapikiran noted.

“Three decades ago, some coral species flourished prominently in shallow waters up to 10 meters along Türkiye’s coasts. However, they’ve since retreated to deeper waters, signaling a distressing migration prompted by environmental shifts,” he told Xinhua.

“Moreover, the density of these colonies is dwindling,” Kapikiran warned, urging related institutions to take urgent measures to protect corals.

“Protective interventions and conservation efforts are critical to preventing further decline and preserving the invaluable biodiversity these coral colonies sustain.”

In 2021, with the contributions of Canakkale 18 March University, the coral colonies in the Marmara Sea were placed under protection, and net fishing was banned in the region.

Sinan Isim, a diving instructor at the Türkiye Underwater Sports Federation, told Xinhua that coral colonies across Türkiye’s seas have faced significant losses as global warming has reached critical levels.

Isim noted that the elevated water temperatures predicted for the 2060s have already been observed in 2024, leading to coral bleaching, which hinders the feeding ability of corals and ultimately leads to their demise.

“We need corals for life to continue underwater, as they serve as homes, feeding grounds, and protection areas for fish,” he said.

The diver stressed that Türkiye’s seas host numerous coral colonies, featuring endemic species among them, and a significant portion of these colonies has started dying, presenting a profoundly worrisome scenario.

“Therefore, unfortunately, I cannot bring you good news today, because when these corals disappear, the entire marine ecosystem is doomed to die,” he said.

Some universities and diving schools have carried out coral planting projects to help restore these vital ecosystems. However, the situation is more dire than previously thought, Isim said.■