Blue Pangolin Consulting is proud to celebrate the launch of the Status and Trends of Coral Reefs of the Pacific: 1980–2023, the most comprehensive assessment ever undertaken of Pacific coral reefs by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). The report, launched on 12 June 2025 at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, was co-edited by Francis Staub and Tom Dallison, both of Blue Pangolin, in their capacities as key contributors to the GCRMN, an operational network of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).
Drawing on more than 15,000 surveys across 8,000 reef sites, the report indicates coral reefs across the Pacific demonstrate signs of stability and resilience, yet are experiencing shifts in their composition as a result of local and regional drivers. While average coral cover has remained relatively stable since 1990, structural shifts in reef communities, increasing macroalgae, and rising sea surface temperature are evident. These trends, driven by marine heatwaves, cyclones, and localised pressures such as pollution and overfishing, underline the vulnerability of Pacific reefs in the face of intensifying climate change.
The report is the product of close collaboration with regional partners, governments, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and key financial contributors — including Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), The Pacific Community (SPC), Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, and the Governments of Sweden and Monaco, further supported by a regional workshop held in November 2023, New Zealand.
From 16 – 18 November, the Pacific Regional Node of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), an operational network of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), convened in Auckland, New Zealand, for a productive workshop to drive the production of the “Status and Trends of Coral Reefs in the Pacific: 1980 – 2023” regional report.
Two High-Profile UNOC Events Unite Science and Pacific Leadership
To launch the report and amplify its findings, the Blue Pangolin team led the coordination of two high-level events at UNOC3, both of which brought together Pacific leaders, regional institutions, global conservation partners, and reef scientists:
Showcasing Expertise Across UNOC3 Panels and Forums
These events, convened by ICRI and GCRMN, served as a platform for government ministers, Indigenous representatives, and international agencies to reflect on the region’s leadership in reef stewardship and the urgent need for international support. They underscored the message that reef protection in the Pacific is not only a conservation priority, but a matter of culture, identity, and security.
The “Status and Trends of Coral Reefs in the Pacific: 1980 – 2023” is more than a scientific publication; it provides governments, donors, and regional bodies with the data and insights needed to design and implement effective coral reef policies — including marine protected areas, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainable blue economy initiatives. The findings support the delivery of global frameworks such as the UNOC Declaration, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and Sustainable Development Goal 14.
As editors, Tom and Francis worked closely with regional experts to shape the report’s structure and messages, alongside its financial support, and subsequent dissemination. Their involvement reflects Blue Pangolin’s ongoing role in delivering technically sound, policy-relevant outputs that support evidence-based decision-making across scales.
A Broader Commitment to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
This report continues Blue Pangolin’s engagement with GCRMN. Francis previously served as editor for the Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020 — the first quantitative assessment of the world’s coral reef report by the GCRMN — and both he and Tom are now supporting the development of the forthcoming Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025.
The “Status and Trends of Coral Reefs of the Pacific: 1980–2023” provides a critical foundation for scaling reef conservation across the Pacific and beyond. Blue Pangolin Consulting remains committed to supporting governments and partners in turning this science into action — through monitoring frameworks, policy design, and sustainable finance solutions that will safeguard coral reefs for generations to come.
