Reefs at Risk Revisited: Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean contains 13 percent of the world's coral reefs, with over 65 percent currently at risk from local threats, primarily overfishing. Projections indicate that by 2050, all areas in the region will be considered threatened due to the combined impact of local pressures and climate-related stressors such as thermal stress and acidification. While 19 percent of reefs are within marine protected areas, only 11 percent of the region's reefs are in MPAs with effective or partially effective management.

• The Indian Ocean region contains 31,500 sq km of coral reefs, representing 13 percent of the global total, and supports more than 65 million people living within 30 km of a reef.
• Over 65 percent of reefs in the Indian Ocean are at risk from local threats, with one-third categorized as high or very high risk. Reefs along continental shores are particularly vulnerable, with more than 90 percent threatened. Overfishing is the primary threat, affecting at least 60 percent of reefs, notably along the coasts of Sumatra, Thailand, Tanzania, southern Kenya, Sri Lanka, and southern India.
• Climate-related threats are projected to increase overall threat levels to over 80 percent by 2030. By 2050, all areas in the region will be considered threatened by a combination of local and climate-related factors, with most facing high risk from thermal stress and moderate risk from acidification.
• Marine protected areas (MPAs) cover 19 percent of the region's coral reefs, with approximately 330 MPAs established. However, only 11 percent of the region's reefs are in MPAs rated as having effective or partially effective management.

APA

World Resources Institute (2011). Reefs at Risk Revisited: Indian Ocean. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_indian_ocean.pdf

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Reefs at Risk Revisited: Indian Ocean. 2011. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_indian_ocean.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Reefs at Risk Revisited: Indian Ocean |date=February 2011 |url=https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_indian_ocean.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2011reefs, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Reefs at Risk Revisited: Indian Ocean}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2011}, month = feb, url = {https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/factsheet_reefs_indian_ocean.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }