Coral bleaching event: impact of the warming ocean
On World Ocean Day, 8th June, we focussed on the important work of our partner Oceans Alive Trust.
We encouraged our members and guests to visit the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club, site of the Oceans Alive offices, permaculture garden project and coral workshop. This complimentary opportunity to understand the pioneering work of the community and other local stakeholders was an important part of raising awareness of the amazing journey we are on together, and the action that is still required to protect the ocean we all rely on.
Support Marine Conservation
All our guests are invited to visit the Marine Sanctuary as one of the key attractions at Vipingo Ridge. By encouraging our guests, local and international tourists to visit the protected waters and complete the activities, funds are passed directly to the organisations protecting these important ecological projects.
From snorkelling, glass bottom boat tours, to participating in the coral planting work, the activities are fun, educational and truly a unique insight into the impact of the conservation work.
Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary
The Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary is globally recognised as a community-led success story. Recently visited by His Majesty King Charles III and award winning, the project rightly has received a lot of acclaim, but the stakeholders all continue to work hard to preserve our ocean and raise much needed funds.
Through the foresight of the Community Based Organisation (CBO) the KCWA (Kuruwitu Conservation and Welfare Association) and the collaboration with Oceans Alive there has been fundamental change, remarkable impact and sustained results through partnership and governance.
KCWA co-founder Dickson Juma
Oceans Alive describe coral reefs as the ‘rainforests of the ocean’. Simply: if there is no coral, there are no fish. The community has faced adversity from the dwindling fish populations, rallied and collaborated to find a new way forward.
Oceans Alive has worked closely with the coastal community; the fisherman for whom the ocean is their livelihood, and other stakeholders, and the resulting protected areas of the ocean have been able thrive, creating a ‘fish nursery’ in Kuruwitu, recently dubbed the ‘Lagoon of Life’ by the BBC.
Coral restoration is a key activity for Oceans Alive, diligently growing and planting new corals to create habitats of the future. This activity is also community-led, with the local leaders, who themselves would have become fisherman, now educating others on the importance of coral reefs and sustainable practices.
This community driven model is now recognised and being given the opportunity to expand to other areas of the Kenyan coast.
Coral Bleaching Event
This World Ocean Day, Oceans Alive have not been wishing us a ‘happy’ one as they have been reporting a global coral bleaching event that has affected the Kenya coastline.
The highest ever sea temperatures have been recorded in 2024.
Due to warming seas, the fourth ever global coral bleaching event has been recorded, the second in the last 10 years. This is when the water temperatures rise beyond the tolerance of the coral, and cause a bleaching effect. Sustained exposure to warm temperatures ultimately can kill the coral.
This coral bleaching event has affected our project.
Regular visitor to the Marine Sanctuary, and Vipingo Ridge Resident shared her experience of the coral bleaching event at Kuruwitu:
“My guests I was guiding were delighted to see so much marine life, the Marine Sanctuary is incredible compared to many sites, but for me, I was crying into my snorkelling mask. There were many species, but fewer than usual, and the coral had lost its vibrancy, looking white and almost dead. It was devastating to see.”
Fortunately the recent rains (May marks the rainy season in Kilifi) have dropped the temperatures of the ocean and our shallow water corals have seen a recovery.
Coral bleaching threatens the coral restoration at Kuruwitu
Oceans Alive have identified that 50% of the coral in Kuruwitu has experienced bleaching.
The restoration of our reefs and efforts to allow sustainable ecosystems to thrive, both in and out of the ocean must continue. To raise awareness of the coral bleaching event Oceans Alive has produced a series of films to help us understand, and also encourage us to take action:
Catalysing action for our ocean and climate
In 2024 the theme for World Ocean Day is ‘Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate’. This is fitting as Oceans Alive is an action-led organisation and given the recent global coral bleaching event, the proactive work to combat climate feels more urgent than ever.
Vipingo Ridge has been a partner of Oceans Alive Trust for almost 20 years, collaborating together in many different ways, to support their work, provide resources and amplify their message and we are very proud to be a part of our shared future.
