Scientists Rediscover Living Coral Reefs off Benin Presumed Dead Since the 1960s
A coral reef barrier off the coast of Benin, initially mapped in the 1960s and thought to be extinct, has been found to be a thriving mesophotic coral ecosystem, as detailed in a study released on July 19 in Frontiers in Marine Science. The research, spearheaded by Gérard Zinzindohoué from the Benin Fisheries and Oceanological Research Institute, commenced in January 2025 with funding from a National Geographic Explorers grant. The team faced obstacles such as acquiring sonar technology and the absence of a dedicated research vessel. Between April and December 2025, sonar mapping and underwater explorations uncovered corals at a depth of approximately 177 feet, alongside the observation of eight fish species. Zinzindohoué is optimistic that this finding will motivate additional ocean research and conservation initiatives.
Key facts
- A coral reef barrier off Benin detected in the 1960s was presumed dead but is now found alive.
- The study was published July 19 in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
- The research provides the first documented evidence of living mesophotic coral communities on the Gulf of Guinea's continental shelf.
- The project began in January 2025 with a National Geographic Explorers grant.
- Surveys from April to December 2025 used sonar mapping, underwater drones, and stationary video recorders.
- The team surveyed a 4.3-mile stretch of a suspected 24-mile-long reef.
- Corals were found about 177 feet below the surface in the mesophotic zone.
- Eight fish species were observed, including golden African snappers and Guinean angelfish.
- The coral species have not yet been directly sampled, so their identification is unconfirmed.
Entities
Artists
- Gérard Zinzindohoué
- Luiz Rocha
- Sanidhya Sharma
- Johnny Sturgeon
- Julia Jacobo
- Margherita Bassi
Institutions
- Benin Fisheries and Oceanological Research Institute
- National Geographic
- Frontiers in Marine Science
- California Academy of Sciences
- Smithsonian Magazine
- Scientific American
- Inside Climate News
- ABC News
Locations
- Benin
- West Africa
- Gulf of Guinea
- Europe