The dark side of eco-tourism: Bangladesh’s coral reefs are turning white

Bangladesh’s only coral-rich island, Saint Martin’s, is in serious trouble.

Its delicate coral reefs are dying because of global warming and human activity. Experts warn that the island’s corals are bleaching, a process where heat stress causes them to turn ghostly white and lose the colourful algae they need to survive.

This mirrors a global crisis, as over 80% of the world’s coral reefs are also affected.

Rising sea temperatures are the main cause, but local human activities are making things worse.

Tourism adds to the problem

Even though Saint Martin’s is an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), too many visitors and unregulated commercial activity are harming its environment. During peak season, the island can see up to 8,000 visitors a day, far more than it can handle.

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This has led to:

• Habitat damage: Illegal hotels and resorts destroy fragile areas.

• Pollution: Poor waste management leads to sewage and plastic contaminating water, which is deadly to corals.

• Physical harm: Boats mooring illegally and tourists walking on reefs break coral structures.

Over the years, the number of coral species has dropped sharply—from 141 to just 41. Scientists warn that if nothing changes, most coral reefs may disappear. They urge the Bangladeshi government to act quickly by limiting visitors and banning overnight stays to save the remaining corals.