Global Assessment of Cold-Water Corals Highlights Urgent Conservation Needs Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A recent study published in the journal Marine Biodiversity presents the first global International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments for 22 cold-water coral species in the Northeast Atlantic. This pioneering research underscores significant threats to marine biodiversity, directly relating to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water.

Key Findings

1. More than 30% of the assessed cold-water coral species are at risk of extinction due to bottom-contact fishing, habitat destruction, and climate change.
2. The white coral (Desmophyllum pertusum), a stony reef-building species, is classified as globally vulnerable.
3. Several deep-sea coral species have not yet been evaluated by the IUCN, exposing critical conservation gaps.
4. The study’s timing coincides with ongoing international negotiations under the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, aiming to enhance protections for high seas biodiversity.

Significance of Cold-Water Corals and Conservation Gaps

Cold-water corals inhabit the ocean’s coldest and darkest depths and play essential ecological roles. Despite this, they have been largely excluded from global extinction risk assessments, reflecting a gap in marine conservation efforts and monitoring.

• Deep-sea benthic species, including cold-water corals, are underrepresented in conservation data, leading to assumptions of their safety that may be inaccurate.
• The study focused on 22 species with well-documented biology and broad geographic ranges in the Northeast Atlantic, an area with some of the best-studied cold-water coral habitats.
• Despite broad distribution, many species show significant population declines, indicating severe threats to deep-sea ecosystems.

This situation aligns with SDG 14.2, which calls for sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.

Threats to Cold-Water Corals

Destructive Fishing Practices

Bottom-contact fishing methods such as deep-sea trawling and dredging are identified as the primary threats, causing extensive damage to benthic habitats and coral skeletons.

• White coral populations have declined by over 30% in the past century due to trawl fishing.
• More than 70% of known cold-water coral reefs in the Northeast Atlantic lie outside marine protected areas, leaving them vulnerable.

Climate Change Impacts

Warming and acidifying oceans threaten suitable habitats for cold-water corals, with projections indicating an 85% reduction in habitat for white coral under worst-case scenarios.

Other Species at Risk

• Sea pens, such as Funiculina quadrangularis, have experienced sharp declines due to bycatch and habitat threats.
• Three coral species are currently data deficient, highlighting the need for further research and monitoring.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The study’s findings emphasize the urgent need to advance SDG 14, particularly targets related to:

• SDG 14.1: Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution and habitat degradation.
• SDG 14.2: Sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
• SDG 14.5: Conserving at least 10% of coastal and marine areas through effectively managed protected areas.
• SDG 14.a: Increasing scientific knowledge and research capacity for ocean health.

Policy and Conservation Recommendations

1. Utilize the IUCN Red List assessments to inform international policy, including the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, to enhance protection of deep-sea species.
2. Expand marine protected areas to include critical cold-water coral habitats, especially in the high seas and shallower waters currently unprotected.
3. Implement stricter regulations on bottom-contact fishing to reduce habitat destruction.
4. Increase investment in deep-sea research, monitoring, and taxonomic expertise to fill data gaps and track population trends over time.

Conclusion

This groundbreaking assessment of cold-water corals marks a critical step toward addressing the conservation needs of deep-sea ecosystems. By aligning conservation efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14, stakeholders can better safeguard marine biodiversity and ensure the health of ocean ecosystems for future generations.

References

Sigwart, J. D., Allcock, A. L., Mikosz Arantes, R. C., Barnhill, K. A., Bax, N., Beneti, J. S., … De Wilt, M. E. (2025). The first IUCN Red List of cold-water corals highlights global declines. Marine Biodiversity, 55(3), 51. doi:10.1007/s12526-025-01533-0

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article focuses on the conservation status of cold-water coral species in the Northeast Atlantic, highlighting threats such as bottom-contact fishing, habitat destruction, and climate change.
   • It emphasizes the need for improved biodiversity protection in marine environments, especially in deep-sea and high seas areas.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article discusses the impact of warming and acidifying oceans on cold-water coral habitats, indicating climate change as a significant threat.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • While primarily about marine life, the article’s focus on biodiversity conservation and extinction risk assessment aligns with the broader goal of protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience and taking action for their restoration.
   • Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
   • Target 14.7: Increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria
   • The article uses the IUCN Red List assessments to measure the extinction risk of cold-water coral species, indicating categories such as “near threatened” and “vulnerable.”
   • This serves as an indicator of species population health and risk status, which can be tracked over time to monitor conservation progress.
2. Population Decline and Habitat Degradation
   • Population decline percentages (e.g., white coral population decline of more than 30%) are used as proxies for assessing species risk.
   • Habitat degradation, including the extent of habitat loss due to bottom-contact fishing and climate change effects (e.g., potential 85% habitat shrinkage), is an implied indicator.
3. Marine Protected Areas Coverage
   • The percentage of coral reefs within marine protected areas (less than 30% protected) is an indicator of conservation coverage and effectiveness.
4. Regulatory Measures
   • Implementation of bans such as the EU’s 2017 ban on bottom trawling below 800 meters serves as a policy indicator to reduce threats.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.mongabay.com