96 PER CENT OF CORAL REEFS FACE CRITICAL RISK OF COLLAPSE, ALL FOUR INDIAN REEF REGIONS UNDER THREAT
November 3, 2026
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 3: Nearly 96 per cent of the world's coral reef ecosystems are facing a critical risk of collapse, with all four major coral reef regions in India also under threat, according to a new global assessment highlighting the growing impact of climate change and human activities on marine ecosystems.
The assessment raises concerns about the future of coral reefs, which support an extraordinary diversity of marine life and provide essential ecological and economic benefits to millions of people. Rising ocean temperatures, marine heatwaves, pollution, destructive fishing practices and other environmental pressures are intensifying the threats to these fragile ecosystems.
India's four major coral reef regions — the Gulf of Mannar, the Gulf of Kutch, the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — are also exposed to significant risks. These ecosystems provide habitats for numerous marine species, support fisheries and contribute to coastal protection and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the sea.
The global study, conducted under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Ecosystems, assessed 127 coral reef ecoregions worldwide. Of these, 122 were classified as Critically Endangered when projected ocean warming and marine heat stress through 2075 were included. One region, the Western Galápagos Islands, had already collapsed, while four others lacked sufficient data for classification.
The assessment covered approximately 188,362 square kilometres of coral reefs across more than 80 countries and territories, drawing on the expertise of more than 250 specialists. Scientists from India's Zoological Survey of India, under the Union environment ministry, contributed to the South Asian section of the study, which was unveiled at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, COP17, in Yerevan, Armenia.
The findings are particularly concerning for South Asia, where all 13 assessed coral reef ecoregions across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago are projected to enter the Critically Endangered category when future marine heat stress is taken into account. Together, these regions cover approximately 8,282.6 square kilometres and represent around four per cent of the world's coral reefs.
India's reef ecosystems have historically faced different levels of risk. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and western coastal reefs, including the Gulf of Kutch, were classified as Vulnerable, while the reefs of the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay were classified as Endangered. The projections indicate that all four regions could face the highest threat category as ocean temperatures continue to rise.
The study identified marine heatwaves, coral bleaching, coastal development, pollution and overfishing among the principal pressures on coral reefs. India accounted for 162 of the 350 coral reef monitoring sites examined across South Asia, representing 46.3 per cent of the regional total.
Despite the alarming projections, the classification does not mean that 96 per cent of coral reefs have already disappeared. The assessment indicates that most still contain living coral and support marine life, but face an extremely high risk of losing the ecological characteristics that define functioning reef ecosystems.
Researchers have highlighted improved water quality, better coastal planning and reef restoration as measures that could help reduce local pressures. However, substantial reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions remain essential to limit future warming and improve the long-term prospects for coral reef survival.
