Briefing: Still standing but mostly dead: Recovery of dying coral reef in Moorea stalls

In April 2019, a marine heat wave severely affected the coral reef ecosystem in Moorea, leading to extensive coral bleaching and mortality.

Since this event, live coral populations have remained largely unchanged, indicating a stalled recovery process.

The beneficial algae, crucial for coral health, were also adversely impacted, further complicating the ecosystem's recovery dynamics.