How south-east Asia is fighting back to save corals – photo essay

A series of initiatives involving scientists, NGOs and fishing communities across south-east Asia is attempting to breathe new life into vital marine ecosystems damaged by heating waters, acidification and years of overfishing

• Text and photographs by Giacomo d’Orlando

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. A home for fish, invertebrates and other marine life, they are crucial for maintaining the health and balance of the ocean. As well as generating half of Earth’s oxygen – it is said that the ocean gives us every second breath we take – oceans absorb more than 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions, and capture 90% of the excess heat generated by these emissions, up to four times faster than the same area of tropical forest.

A sample of Pocillopora acuta is tested in a continuous nitrogen chamber at Macorin (Marine and Coastal Research Institute) at Prince of Songkla University, Thailand