Coral reef presumed dead for 60 years found alive off West Africa

Cotonou, Benin: A coral reef off West Africa thought to be dead since 1960s surveys has been rediscovered alive and “teeming with life,” researchers report in Frontiers in Marine Science.

Scientists from the Institute of Halieutic and Oceanographic Research in Cotonou used modern sonar and underwater drones to survey 7 miles of seabed in the Gulf of Guinea. The footage showed a healthy mesophotic coral ecosystem — a deep-water reef with limited light.

They recorded 8 types of coral and 8 fish species, including golden African snapper, Guinean angelfish, and West African goatfish. Lead author Gérard Zinzindohoué called it “the first confirmed record of a living mesophotic coral ecosystem on the Gulf of Guinea continental shelf.” The team believes more such reefs may exist undocumented in the region. Further diving and sampling are needed to confirm coral species and study their resilience to climate change.