Small colorful fish swim around dead, bleached Lace Coral

Coral Bleaching and Fish Losing Homes.

This underwater clip shows small, colorful fish weaving around a cluster of dead, bleached lace coral, a delicate coral species that has lost its vibrant hues. The lace coral stands out in stark white, its fine, lace-like branches now appearing brittle and pale. This bleached coral structure in this video shot sits on a rugged reef, surrounded by a mix of other corals, including textured Porites corals, and other soft coral species. Small fish of varying colors, mostly black and white, orange and blue, flit in and out of the coral’s branches. In contrast to the bleached coral, some sections of the reef show darker, healthier coral patches, though signs of environmental stress are evident.

Close-up Free Stock Footage of Dead Lace Corals.

This footage of fish swimming around a dead Distichopora coral highlights the impact of coral bleaching on dependent marine life. Captured in ultra-high-definition 4K (2160p) and HD (1080p) resolutions, this free stock footage is available in both landscape (16:9 aspect ratio) and vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) formats, making it suitable for a range of uses, from widescreen presentations to social media platforms like Instagram Reels, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. This footage’s versatility and vivid clarity make it ideal for environmental campaigns, NGO initiatives, documentaries, and educational content aimed at showcasing the delicate relationships within reef ecosystems.

Lace coral provides an essential habitat for various reef fish, such as damselfish, gobies, and cardinalfish. Its complex branches offer shelter and feeding grounds, particularly for juvenile fish that rely on its crevices for protection. When lace coral bleaches and dies, it weakens and erodes, diminishing shelters and feeding areas for these fish. As a result, they are forced into more exposed areas, increasing their vulnerability to predators. This loss disrupts the reef ecosystem, affecting fish populations and other marine species reliant on a balanced environment.