Coral reefs are dying at a record speed, putting a backbone of global food chains at critical risk. More than 80 percent of coral reefs are now hit by mass bleaching. Reefs feed millions, protect coasts and shape economies. What happens when they vanish – and is the world doing enough to stop it?

In this episode:

Heather Starck (@HeatherStarck), executive director, Coral Reef Alliance

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Manuel Rápalo and Marcos Bartolomé, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Kingwell Ma, Remas Alhawari and Mariana Navarrete. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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