El Niño could bring more widespread coral bleaching, NOAA warns

The expected arrival of El Niño this summer could trigger another mass coral bleaching event, which would be the fifth on record, researchers said.

• Jun 3

Underwater sculptures transform concrete into reef

According to a recent report, the world has reached its first climate change tipping point. Scientists point to the widespread bleaching of coral reefs due to rising ocean temperatures. Cristian Benavides reports on the Reefline, a manmade art installation and restoration project.

• Oct 31, 2025
• 2:56

Heat wave caused key part of Florida coral reef to become "functionally extinct"

A record 2023 heat wave all but eradicated two species of coral that historically served as the backbone of Florida's reefs, researchers said in a new report.

• Oct 23, 2025

Report: Coral reefs pass climate "tipping point"

For years, scientists and the U.N. have spoken about critical climate tipping points that, if crossed, could potentially cause irreversible changes to the planet and accelerate climate change. According to a report published Monday by researchers at the University of Exeter, the first tipping point has likely already been reached for coral reefs. CBS News senior coordinating producer for climate and environmental coverage Tracy Wholf explains.

• Oct 13, 2025
• 2:29

Coral reefs are first environmental system to pass climate "tipping point"

Crucial for marine life and the global economy, coral reefs are the planet's first major environmental system to cross a climate "tipping point" as the world warms.

• Oct 12, 2025

Seized coral illegally smuggled from Indonesia finds new home in New York

About 200 coral pieces were plucked from the water somewhere in Indonesia, packaged up, and sent by plane to the U.S., where they were discovered and seized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Sep 25, 2025

Coral seized from smugglers gets second chance

Hundreds of live corals were illegally smuggled halfway around the world, but instead of certain death, Bradley Blackburn reports on the effort to nurse them back to life.

• Sep 25, 2025
• 1:57

Crossbreeding corals from Honduras could help protect Florida's coast

Elkhorn coral helps form the skeleton of a healthy reef, but more than 95% of the Elkhorn coral off Florida has been wiped out. Scientists have created the "Flonduran" crossbreed to solve the problem.

• Jul 15, 2025

Growing coral to restore the Florida Reef

The warming ocean waters off the Florida coast have had a devastating impact on Florida's coral reef. Manuel Bojorquez reports on how scientists now believe they have found at least one way to give the coral a fighting chance.

• Jul 15, 2025
• 2:43

Nature: Culebra

We leave you this Sunday Morning far from winter's cold -- in waters off the small island of Culebra, part of Puerto Rico. Videographer: Ziggy Livnat.

• Feb 11, 2018
• 2:00

Hawaii's once-vivid coral reefs are "all bleached white"

Coral reefs in Honolulu and other coastal areas are undergoing what experts say is the world's worst coral bleaching event.

• May 19, 2025

Hawaii reefs hit by rapid coral bleaching

Beneath the world's oceans, a seismic event is occurring. Coral reefs, essential for maintaining marine life and coastal storm protection, are slowly dying in the climate change-fueled warming waters. Karen Hua reports.

• May 19, 2025
• 2:58

Coral reef bleaching hits 84% worldwide, worst on record, surveys show

Harmful bleaching of the world's coral has grown to include 84% of the ocean's reefs in the most intense event of its kind in recorded history, scientists say.

• Apr 23, 2025

Scientists say biggest coral in the world discovered in the Pacific

Scientists say they've discovered a "mega coral" three times bigger than the previous record holder - so huge they initially thought it was a shipwreck.

• Nov 14, 2024

Report: Coral reef bleaching event largest ever

New data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has scientists ringing alarm bells about the health of the world's oceans. Seventy-seven percent of the world's coral reefs have experienced "bleaching-level heat stress" over the last 22 months. Derek Manzello, coordinator of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program, joins CBS News to dive deeper into the research.

• Oct 23, 2024
• 3:59

300 corals taken to Texas from Florida as part of effort to save the species

Scientists have moved about 300 endangered sea corals from South Florida to the Texas Gulf Coast for research and restoration.

• Sep 19, 2024

Veterans group works to restore coral reefs

According to NOAA, last month was the hottest June on record globally, and sea temperatures stayed well above average. The hotter-than-usual ocean water is a cause for concern for delicate coral reefs. In Florida, a group of veterans is working to help restore the vital ecosystems — and it's helping more than just the reefs.

• Jul 20, 2024
• 2:53

Scientists work to save reef sharks

A global shark census found in 2018 that the population of five main reef shark species, which are key to balancing the ecosystem of coral reefs, had declined 63%. Ben Tracy takes a look at a group working to protect these necessary predators.

• Apr 22, 2024
• 2:37

How countries are using innovative technology to preserve ocean life

More than 100 nations, including the United States, have agreed to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.

• Apr 22, 2024

Great Barrier Reef again undergoes mass coral bleaching event

The mass bleaching event comes as the world saw record-high sea surface temperatures and the hottest February ever recorded.

• Mar 8, 2024

3 new coral bleaching alert levels created in wake of extreme heat

The revised coral bleaching alert levels come in the wake of Florida experiencing hot tub-level sea temperatures and some reefs experiencing "100% mortality."

• Feb 1, 2024

Deep-sea reef the size of Vermont discovered off U.S.

The 6.4 million-acre reef is bigger than the state of Vermont, NOAA says.

• Jan 23, 2024

Video shows Navy plane tires on coral after landing in Hawaii bay

The U.S. Navy says underwater footage shows two points where a large surveillance plane is touching coral in the Hawaii bay where it landed more than a week ago.

• Nov 30, 2023

Video shows Navy plane resting on coral reef

New underwater video was released of a Navy spy plane which overshot a runway in Hawaii and landed in a bay. The video shows the tires of the plane sitting on an ecologically-sensitive reef. The Navy is trying to consider how to safely remove the plane.

• Nov 30, 2023
• 0:23

Urgent effort to save coral reefs off Florida

The coral reefs off the shores of the Florida Keys should be vibrant and colorful this time of year. But scientists say they're seeing a very different picture. CBS News' Manuel Bojorquez reports on a race to save the coral – by removing them from their habitat.

• Aug 7, 2023
• 5:02

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