The Marquesas archipelago is till now the only one in French Polynesia affected by this bleaching event
“This is a diver, Baptiste Le Bouil, who found a coral bleaching on the seabed of the islands of Fatu Huku, Tahuata and Hiva Oa. Many coral colonies wholly or partly white have been observed.” Those white corals are not dead “but sick.” “Due to a strong stress, they lost their symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae that give them energy to grow,” explain the coral specialists.
Between 20% and 50% of the colonies are already affected by bleaching in Tahuata and Hiva Oa
According to Criobe and Reef Check, this is the water temperature “unusually high” that is responsible for the bleaching. For now, it is the branching and massive corals that are primarily affected. “Experts from NASA feared El Niño in 2016 more powerful and devastating than ever with potentially significant impacts on the health of coral reefs. The Marquesas archipelago is currently the only one in French Polynesia affected by this bleaching event.”
Reef Check Polynesia, coordinated by the association Te Mana o te moana, called anyone testifying bleached coral in Polynesia and more especially the Marquesas to contact them in order to follow the evolution of this phenomenon. Divers, fishermen and water sports enthusiasts will be among the first to raise the alarm if new areas are affected.
