Since the 1998 El Niño event, the globe has witnessed at least 5 major coral bleaching events.Countless corals have died due to high temperatures and the voracious appetite of crown-of-thorns starfish, leading to a sharp decline in species within coral reef ecosystems.

Will corals really become extinct in the next 30 years? Coral reef expeditions are known not to directly bring economic benefits. Decoding the Coral Reef Ecosystem in the Nansha Islands shows a century-long effort by a dedicated group of people.