New Delhi, May 7 -- The vibrant corals of the picturesque Lakshadweep sea nestled in India's smallest union territory off the coast of Kerala are losing their sheen as it is experiencing prolonged marine heatwaves since late October 2023.

These marine heat waves, characterised by extended periods of abnormally high ocean temperatures, have pushed the Degree Heating Week (DHW) indicator above 4 degC-weeks, posing a severe threat to coral health, said scientists at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) as they observed alarming levels of coral bleaching, indicating significant stress on marine ecosystems in the region.

Coral bleaching occurs when the water temperature becomes excessively warm, causing corals to expe...