Benin’s “Dead” Coral Reefs Teem with Life

Scientists using underwater drones discovered thriving coral reefs off the coast of Benin, West Africa, which were initially identified in the 1960s but presumed dead. Researchers from the Institut de Recherches Halieutiques et Océanologiques du Bénin employed sonar and underwater cameras to locate the mesophotic coral ecosystem more than 50 meters below the surface.

The team identified eight coral species and eight species of reef fish, including golden African snappers and Guinean angelfish, indicating a healthy and diverse habitat. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about coral reef distribution in the Gulf of Guinea and suggests other undocumented reefs may exist.

Currently, the researchers haven’t directly sampled the coral for confirmation, and the reef’s historical condition remains unknown. Further exploration and sampling are planned to understand the ecosystem’s history and its response to changing ocean conditions.