Recent studies have shown that coral bleaching in the Cozumel area is diminished by as much as 15% from the year before.  According to officials in the  National Marine Park, only 10% of the corals studied in 2012 were affected by coral bleaching.  This is a significant improvement over 2011’s results, which indicated that 25% were affected.  These results are based on surveys which are conducted monthly.  Coral bleaching, is due in part, to high water temperatures, which , cause corals to expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality.

This story originally appeared in the weekly Cozumel 4 You NEWS – the island’s number one source of positive information about our island!  Be sure and subscribe to the weekly NEWS to find out all the island events! You can find the link on the bottom of our home page.

Laura Wilkinson
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