Everything You Need to Know About the Coral Bleaching Reporting Campaign — Join the Ocean Conservation Administration in Protecting Our Reefs!

Campaign Purpose

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced this April that the world has entered its fourth mass coral bleaching event in thirty years. From 2023 through the first half of 2024, abnormally elevated water temperatures have been recorded in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Large-scale coral bleaching events have also been documented in the Caribbean, the Red Sea, Fiji, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef — a clear sign that coral reefs worldwide are facing increasingly frequent and severe climate crises that pose a serious threat to their survival.

Coral reefs are a vital component of the marine ecosystem — they not only provide habitat and food sources for countless marine species, but also play a crucial role in maintaining ocean ecological balance and regulating climate.

It is therefore hoped that through a reporting system, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) can collect large volumes of bleaching event data to analyze the patterns, frequency, and geographic scope of coral bleaching occurrences.

The Ocean Conservation Administration Establishes the "Coral Dive Alliance" in 2024

As part of a 2024 initiative to promote local partner coral habitat conservation and guidance, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) has invited member dive shops of the alliance to join the coral bleaching reporting group. Alliance shops will serve as physical hubs and demonstration sites, inviting divers to join the coral bleaching reporting effort, help document coral conditions across Taiwan's waters, and stay continuously engaged with the health of coral reefs in the seas surrounding Taiwan.

The Ocean Conservation Administration Launches the Coral Club Official LINE Account

The OCA has officially launched the 【Coral Club】 official LINE account, so you can stay connected with us anytime, anywhere. We will provide richer knowledge on ocean and coral conservation, as well as upcoming eco-friendly coral tour events!

Step 1: Register your email address and upload photos of bleached coral

Step 2: Indicate whether this is the first time you have observed this particular bleached coral

Step 3: Record how many times you have documented this particular bleached coral

Step 4: Note whether this particular bleached coral has shown any signs of recovery

Step 5: Complete the basic coral reporting information

Step 6: Submit the form

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OCA Campaign Reward System

• Reward 1: Upload coral bleaching data during the announced campaign period. The first 100 verified reports (authenticated by expert scholars) will each receive an additional NT$300 dive trip discount voucher. This voucher is valid at all alliance shops participating in this campaign and may only be applied toward dive trip bookings — it does not cover merchandise sold by the shops. The voucher is valid through December 25, 2024.
• Reward 2: The team will hold a lucky draw. Divers who submit reports via the online form from now through October 31, 2024, and who have submitted repeat reports on the same coral colony at least 2 times — with data verified as accurate by expert scholars — will be eligible to enter the draw. The draw will take place on November 8, 2024. Eligibility is calculated based on the number of coral colonies reported per account; for example, if Diver A has completed repeat records for 2 coral colonies, they receive 2 draw entries. Prizes include a dive computer, a mobile phone underwater housing, a scuba Flash Light set, and scuba fins.

The health of our marine ecosystem is in all of our hands. The OCA invites you to help document coral bleaching — every photo you submit will become invaluable scientific data for researchers. We encourage you to continue participating in the "Coral Bleaching Reporting" initiative, helping scientists better understand the frequency, geographic distribution, and duration of bleaching events. This data will also help us more accurately predict future bleaching events and formulate appropriate protective measures. Let's work together to report coral bleaching!

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