Marine Animals

Marine Heatwave Wildlife Welfare

Marine heatwaves are increasing in frequency and intensity, causing mass mortality events and welfare crises for marine wildlife from fish to marine mammals.

Key Facts

Marine heatwaves above 4 degrees C above average cause mass bleaching and mortality
The 2015-16 global coral bleaching event killed 50% of Great Barrier Reef corals
Sea lion starvation following warm water fish movement causes widespread welfare harm
Harmful algal blooms associated with warm water cause mass mortality and strandings
Marine mammal strandings linked to warm water events are increasing globally

Welfare Considerations

Marine heatwaves cause acute mass suffering events and chronic stress from reduced food availability and habitat degradation. Individual marine animals - fish, invertebrates, marine mammals - experience starvation, injury, and death during these events. Climate action is the only long-term solution.

What You Can Do

Take urgent climate action as a marine welfare imperative
Support marine wildlife rescue organisations responding to stranding events
Report marine wildlife in difficulty to local rescue networks
Donate to climate-focused ocean conservation organisations
Advocate for marine protected areas to build ecosystem resilience