In Cyprus, record-shattering temperatures are scorching both the land and the surrounding sea. Warm seas feel great on holiday, but for marine life, they can be devastating.
As ocean temperatures spike for longer and longer periods, how severe is the threat to underwater ecosystems — and can we do anything to prevent the worst? “The visibility is not that good today — normally it's crystal clear," says Louis Hadjioannou, Researcher in Marine Ecology at the CMMI in Cyrprus, as she leads today's dive.What’s obvious is this coastline near Larnaca, is in trouble.
Last year, it was a lush seagrass meadow, a haven for sea turtles and stingrays. Now, it's a lifeless expanse, littered with the remains of once-thriving sponges. “We are a hotspot of rising temperatures, both outside the water but also inside the water.
And these increasing temperatures, which are becoming more intense, more prolonged and more high, they are obviously affecting organisms.