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High temperatures in the Mediterranean this summer destroyed the corals of the paramuricea clavata species near Marseille, BTA reported.

Saulen Bastar-Gauguin, director of an association specializing in the protection of the marine environment, described the temperature record in the Mediterranean this summer as "a fire in the water". 

At the end of August, divers sounded the alarm.

Coral death occurred very quickly.

Only two months were needed to destroy the multicolored forest under water, says Tristan Estac, head of scientific missions for the Septentrion environnement association.

The association studies the Mediterranean ecosystem. 

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A heat wave hit the western Mediterranean during the summer months, causing seawater temperatures to rise 4 to 5 degrees above normal for the season.

In places, the water temperature reached 30 degrees. 

Tristan Estac describes an apocalyptic landscape observed during the September dives.

"Imagine a tree without leaves and without bark."

Estac shows a piece of dead coral, beige in color and with bare branches.

In its usual state, this type of coral is colored purple.

Prolonged high temperatures caused his death, the fabric turned gray and turned to dust.

According to the Estac association, 70 to 90 percent of the population of paramuricea clavata at a depth of 10 to 20 meters underwater in the Marseille area is dead. 

About 20 percent of living tissue from each polyp was collected and labeled by the Septentrion environnement association for genetic analysis. 

Dying of the coral species has also been observed off the coast of Spain, in the Toulon area and off Sardinia.

Corals that live at a depth of about 6 meters are particularly affected.

Around the Balearic Islands, corals are found at a greater depth – up to 40 meters.

They are less affected. 

According to Solen Bastar-Gauguin, the drop in temperatures in recent days may protect those who are not affected.

However, scientists cannot be sure.

It is possible that the heat has activated a pathogen that is still in the water. 

Scientific forecasts for the species are pessimistic.

The effect is like that of a forest fire.

It will take decades for the population to recover. 

corals

Mediterranean sea