Coral reef-building species face 44% extinction risk

An international assessment published in the journal Nature reveals that 44% of reef-building coral species are threatened with extinction. Out of 774 species with sufficient data, 340 are categorized as at risk, including 33 species in critical danger, 251 endangered, and 56 vulnerable.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) identifies rising ocean temperatures and global warming as the primary threats. The study notes that the actual risk may be even higher, as the assessment was completed before the intense marine heatwaves recorded between 2023 and 2025.

Coral bleaching caused by thermal stress weakens these organisms and can lead to mass mortality. This degradation threatens marine food webs, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of communities in over 100 tropical countries that rely on reefs for fishing, tourism, and coastal protection.