Local Threats Multiply

Climate change is the overarching threat, but local stressors compound the damage. Nutrient runoff from agricultural fertilizers triggers algal blooms that smother corals and block sunlight. Sediment from deforestation and construction smothers reef surfaces. Plastic pollution introduces toxins and physically damages fragile structures.

The interaction between threats matters more than individual stressors. A reef weakened by poor water quality is less resilient to bleaching. Overfishing removes herbivorous fish that keep algae from smothering coral, and each pressure amplifies the others.