Annual Coral Reef Monitoring Programme Launched in Red Sea

Egypt's annual coral reef monitoring programme has been launched in the Red Sea. The initiative, conducted by scientific teams from the Northern Islands Protected Area, aims to assess reef health and track climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. Field surveys carried out earlier this year indicate that, unlike in 2023 and 2024, there are no signs of coral bleaching or damage from elevated sea surface temperatures. Acting Minister of Environment Awad attributed this positive shift to a shorter duration of high temperatures, which reduced thermal stress on coral colonies. The monitoring programme involves collaboration between the Red Sea and South Sinai nature reserve experts and university researchers, using standardised scientific methods to measure coral cover and evaluate environmental stressors such as temperature variation and pollution. This programme forms part of Egypt’s broader efforts to protect a globally significant but vulnerable marine ecosystem. Regular monitoring helps guide long-term conservation strategies and underscores the importance of preserving these reefs amid escalating climate threats.