Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true. They cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet they support about 25% of all marine species. Around 500 million people worldwide depend on reefs for food, income and coastal protection.
And yet, reefs are disappearing.
Between 2009 and 2018, the planet lost roughly 14% of its coral reefs, primarily due to large-scale bleaching events. When water temperatures rise, coral bleaches. It loses its colour. If the stress continues, it dies.
For many South Africans, this problem may seem distant. We picture reefs in tropical holiday destinations, not in our own waters. But coral conservation isn’t just an island issue. South Africa’s coral reefs stretch along roughly 150 kilometres of the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline, mostly within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. iSimangaliso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protects more than 10,000 square kilometres of land and ocean. These reefs are the southernmost coral reef systems along Africa’s east coast, which makes them ecologically special.
Scientists from the University of KwaZulu-Natal have recorded at least 148 coral species from 45 genera in South African coral reefs. They estimate there could be as many as 180 species along our coastline. Reefs also support people through activities such as dive tourism in the area, which generates around 60,000 dives a year and sustains hundreds of direct and indirect jobs.
Marine conservation isn’t abstract. It’s about biodiversity, yes, but it’s also about livelihoods, tourism and the health of our coastline. The challenge is that much of what’s happening underwater goes unnoticed.
“It’s incredibly difficult to care about what you can’t see,” says Leander Kettledas, Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager at Canon South Africa. “Coral bleaching doesn’t happen overnight in some dramatic way. It’s gradual. If you’re not looking closely, you can miss the urgency completely. That’s where imaging technology makes a difference. It helps us see what’s really happening beneath the surface.”
Through its World Unseen platform, Canon South Africa is supporting coral restoration science by providing imaging equipment to partners working on the front lines of conservation. These include Coral Spawning International, a UK-based research organisation focused on coral reproduction science, and Nature Seychelles, a conservation non-profit in the Western Indian Ocean.
Traditional coral restoration often involves taking fragments from existing coral and replanting them. Coral Spawning International focuses on something different. It uses sexual reproduction, sometimes referred to as coral matchmaking, to increase genetic diversity and make reefs more resilient. Together with Nature Seychelles, Canon is helping to establish the first land-based coral spawning facility in Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, forming part of their Assisted Recovery of Corals facility in the Seychelles. The facility includes a coral breeding lab and aims to build a diverse genetic bank of resilient coral species, while providing researchers with invaluable data on reproductive timing and critical early growth and survival, all of which are crucial for developing reefs capable of withstanding threats like coral bleaching.
Imaging plays a central role in this work. High-resolution cameras, macro lenses and underwater systems are used to record coral spawning events, track larval development and monitor reef growth over time. Photogrammetry helps scientists map reefs in detail. The images aren’t only beautiful but also provide critical insights.
“Photography isn’t only about telling a story,” Kettledas continues. “In this context, it’s a scientific tool. When researchers can capture coral spawning at a microscopic level or document reef recovery over time, they’re able to make better decisions. And when the public sees those images, they understand both the scale of the challenge and the progress being made.”
The Western Indian Ocean is an interconnected system. What happens in one part of it affects others. That includes South Africa’s own reefs and the communities that depend on them, all of which are linked to the broader health of the ocean. This is why visibility matters.
When people see a vibrant reef next to a bleached one, the difference is immediate. It’s no longer a statistic. It’s something tangible. And when they see coral returning to life through restoration efforts, the conversation shifts from loss to possibility.
“Conservation is about responsibility, but it’s also about hope,” Leander Kettledas adds. “Reefs are under pressure, that’s true. But restoration is happening. Imaging allows us to document both the damage and the recovery. That clarity helps drive action.”
