Before the crack of dawn on Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand, Somsak Chaisri paddles his wooden boat over waters that used to shimmer with life. A once-vibrant coral garden below the water surface now consists of dead skeleton-like structures. According to this fisherman, the bleached coral skeletons are the only things he pulls from the water after his father showed him how to fish in living coral reefs. "Now, I drag up ghosts," he murmured. His lament echoes across the tropics. From the Maldives to Mozambique, the once-thriving reefs of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans are being scoured of life.
The ongoing coral bleaching event -- silently unfolding since early 2023 -- has affected 84% of the planet's reefs, including vital Thai marine ecosystems according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)
Coral Reef Watch. The scope is unprecedented. The damage, incalculable. And yet, the reaction from the global political class has been, at best, an ambient hum of concern. During the June 2025 Bonn climate talks, marine ecosystems received almost no discussion despite affecting a billion people from Koh Tao to the Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu whose survival depends on these delicate underwater ecosystems.
Marine biodiversity has faced its worst-ever loss in recorded history since early 2023 due to the ongoing coral bleaching crisis. Koh Tao's formerly vibrant reefs, along with Indonesia's Coral Triangle and the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, are experiencing complete coral ecosystem collapse. Coral reefs serve as fundamental supporting structures which maintain the coastal environment. Reefs shield coastal areas from storm events and connect marine food sources while supporting economic development throughout Phuket and the Maldives.
Tourism generates 8.5 billion baht per year through coral reef activities, and the figure tends to grow by 12% each year, according to a recent forecast by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Yet, the health of coral reefs does not only affect just tourism. The thriving fisheries in Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean waters, which feed millions of people, depend on these reefs in the region. The extinction of reefs is leading to severe decreases in fish populations -- causing food shortages and population movements and economic deterioration that affects Southeast Asia, together with other regions worldwide.
The complete lack of action from world leaders serves as a terrible illustration of how environmental injustice unfolds. People who make their living from the sea and the land along with indigenous guardians and coastal residents who contribute least to greenhouse gas emissions face the worst impact. Fishermen in the Andaman Sea of Thailand such as Mr Somsak experience complete failure in their fishing trips and reduced financial returns.
The destruction of reefs represents an ecological crisis which also causes regional instability while influencing worldwide interests. The gradual destruction of reefs reveals an extensive breakdown because climate diplomats focus on carbon emissions limits while ignoring the demise of oceanic respiratory systems.
But this simmering global crisis has failed to generate the same level of anxiety that oil disruptions and cyberattacks do. Part of the answer lies in visibility. Coral bleaching is not cinematic. The victims -- fishers in Koh Tao, divers in Bali, or villagers in coastal Senegal -- are too poor, too peripheral, and too dispersed to command centre stage at Davos or the G20. The fundamental reason behind this problem is an inadequate capacity to imagine solutions. World leaders assess ecological breakdown as a secondary priority, which does not match its status as a geopolitical threat to planetary habitability.
Multiple solutions exist but lack proper funding and organisation. Scientists working in marine biology are developing heat-resistant coral breeding techniques to help corals survive rising ocean temperatures. Coral gardening projects in Phuket have established successful reef replanting programmes with a 20% success rate. The establishment of marine protected areas across Indonesia has resulted in a 30% increase in fish populations, providing fishing opportunities to local communities. The Australian scientific community is investigating several advanced cooling methods to protect reefs from the effects of heatwaves. These are not pipe dreams, but proven strategies. However, the United Nations Environment Programme reports that coral restoration receives only 5% of global climate funding -- far short of what is needed to expand these programmes effectively.
The project lacks essential political will and diplomatic emphasis. Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources should establish a Coral Rescue Compact to enable coordinated regional action through Asean's 2025 biodiversity framework. Such a compact would require binding agreements that mandate increased marine funding at the regional level, along with the implementation of coastal development restrictions and the designation of protected marine areas. With its strong marine legacy and reef-dependent economy, Thailand is well-positioned to lead regional reef conservation efforts. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) can expand this initiative while setting worldwide best practices.
Asean members should put ocean ecosystems at the core of discussions during the 2025 COP30 conference in November. Citizens across Bangkok and Chiang Mai and other areas need to support Koh Tao's Ocean For All organisation, which trains local divers for reef restoration work. Grassroots activism can pressure governments to implement measures that halt destructive practices such as dynamite fishing and reduce emissions. Coastal development activities must end harmful practices that bury reefs under sediment, from Krabi's limestone cliffs to Bali's shores.
Reefs can recover only when they are granted proper protection. Greenhouse gas reductions must match the severity of the ocean warming threat for emissions control to be effective. The extractive tourism industry must be regulated to prevent the destructive behaviour that damages the very natural attractions it promotes. While tourism remains Thailand's main economic driver, the country has the potential to pioneer sustainable practices that could serve as regional best practices. Tourists visiting Koh Tao could participate in coral planting activities, while hotels in Phuket could help establish marine protected areas.
This issue demands pragmatic action rather than emotional responses. Marine heatwaves are becoming more severe, and coral reefs stand no chance without proactive conservation efforts. Refusing to protect reefs is tantamount to accepting the complete destruction of entire geographic regions. East Africa's fisheries sector has entered a period of total decline. Pacific Island nations face existential threats. The coastal economies of Southeast Asia are on the brink of collapse. The failure to protect these vital life sanctuaries will result in the well-deserved loss of what remains of the natural world.
A peaceful resolution is needed -- not between nations, but between humanity and the ocean. The same diplomacy that resolves land-based conflicts must be applied to defend the silent battle unfolding beneath the ocean's surface. The ocean signals distress through hunger, migration, and the erosion of identity. Thailand risks losing a core part of its identity with the disappearance of its coral reefs. The loss of fish would have devastating consequences for the coastal regions of Indonesia. The ocean -- and its billion supporters across Southeast Asia and beyond -- deserves unwavering protection.
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