TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Marine heatwaves pose a growing threat to human health, according to researchers from Australia's University of Adelaide and the University of Hong Kong, in a statement released on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, according to Antara, citing Xinhua.
According to the new research, the impacts of marine heatwaves extend beyond the death of coral reefs and reduced fisheries yields.
The researchers are calling for marine heatwaves to be recognized as a major public health issue.
The argument is made because the impact of marine heatwaves on humans has been largely overlooked, despite growing evidence demonstrating their far-reaching consequences.
The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, outlines how prolonged periods of extremely high ocean temperatures can trigger a range of impacts affecting human health, including exacerbating extreme weather, reducing seafood supplies, and increasing mental health challenges in coastal communities.
The research team says that marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting, and more intense as the climate warms.
They also note that the phenomenon has been linked to mass marine life mortality, coral bleaching, harmful algal blooms, and disruptions to fisheries and aquaculture.
Laura Falkenberg of the University of Adelaide, the study's lead author, said the impacts of marine heatwaves on humans have received far less attention than their environmental impacts.
Extreme ocean temperatures can contribute to the formation of more intense weather systems, increasing the risk of storms and flooding, while rapid growth of harmful algal blooms can contaminate seafood and pose serious health risks.
The study also found that declining fish stocks and seafood production could threaten food security for billions of people.
The research also highlighted psychological impacts, including anxiety, grief, and other mental health issues, among coastal communities whose livelihoods and cultural identities are closely tied to the ocean.
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