Coral Reefs
Trouble in Paradise is a 26-minute long video on YouTube you can watch for FREE!
This captivating video tells the story of a scientific team as they scuba diving in the Chagos Archipelagoago as part of a multi-year, global reef expedition. Their mission, survey coral reefs so we can better understand how to protect them for the future.
The Chagos Archipelago is a British Indian Ocean Territory with some of the healthiest coral reefs on the planet. The Chagos Archipelago is a group of seven coral atolls, comprised of more than 60 individual islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometers south of the Maldives archipelago.
In 2010 the Chagos Archipelago was designated a no-take marine protected area and covers 550 000 km2. The Chagos Marine Protected Area is one of the largest protected areas in the world and contains 25–50% of the Indian Ocean reef area remaining in excellent condition.
Trouble in Paradise
Initially, scientists aboard the research vessel are thrilled with the beauty they find on the reef. But in the space of a few weeks, they become surprised witnesses to a serious case of bleaching in the reefs — evidence that even the most isolated places are not safe from the ravages of climate change.
Throughout their trip, the scientist document unique species of coral and fish which occur in the Chagos, noting how they interact with the reef. Their study does give some reason for hope leaving with a clear sense of what may be necessary to save the world’s coral reefs. [Living Oceans]
