Reporte de Blanqueamiento

Citizen Coral Bleaching Report

SOMAC & Submarinformantes Collaboration

This form collects citizen reports of possible coral bleaching events on reefs in Mexico.

The information recorded will help document field observations through photographs and basic data, identify potentially affected sites, track reports over time and space, and support validation of the collected information through photographs and specialist review.

You may complete this form if you observed bleached or pale corals, or if you visited a reef site and did not observe bleaching. Reports with no bleaching are also important because they help document the timing of events and sites where impacts have not yet been observed.

You may submit more than one report from the same site throughout the year. If you revisit a site and observe changes, you may submit a new report.

If you have photographs, please attach them to the form. Images help validate the report, confirm whether the condition is coral bleaching, and support identification of the coral observed. If you do not have an underwater camera or were unable to take photographs, you may still submit your report. In that case, the record will be considered informational or preliminary and may require follow-up.

Before completing the form, review the reference images.
Coral bleaching can appear as a partial or total loss of color. The entire reef does not need to be white to be reported; pale or partially bleached colonies, as well as sites where no bleaching is observed, may also be reported.

Reference image for identifying coral bleaching

A white coral does not always mean a dead coral. Sharing good-quality photographs that can be reviewed in detail will help specialists determine whether the condition is bleaching, paling, recent mortality, or another condition.

Reference examples by region

Mexican Pacific

Mexican Caribbean

Observer information

These details will only be used to keep track of contributors, request clarification, or follow up on the report.

Observer or Submarinformante name * Contact email *

1. Reef site information

Reference coastal state * Reference coastal municipality * Nearby city or locality * Name of reef site or observed area * Select the approximate location on the map *

Click the map to save the geographic coordinates of the observed site.

Latitude *

Longitude *

2. Date and observation conditions

Observation date *

Approximate depth (m) *

Water temperature (°C)

Type of activity *

Other activity, please specify

3. Report type

Reports with no bleaching are also useful for understanding event timing and identifying sites where impacts have not yet been observed.

Did you observe coral bleaching at the site? *

4. Coral species or type observed

Were you able to identify the coral type?

Species, common names, or coral types observed at the reporting site How many different coral species or types did you observe with possible bleaching? If you observed more than one species with bleaching or paling, enter the scientific name, common name or coral type and the possible condition here

Approximate number of affected colonies

5. Extent of bleaching

Approximate extent of observed bleaching How did the bleaching appear?

Partially bleached colonies Completely white colonies Pale colonies Possible recent mortality Algae present on dead coral Other (please specify) I am not sure Not applicable, I did not observe bleaching

Describe the other condition observed

Approximate area observed

6. Photographic evidence and report validation

Photographs help validate the report, confirm whether the condition is coral bleaching, and, when possible, support identification of the coral observed. You may still submit your report without photographs.

Do you have photographs of the coral or site observed? *

Photographic report

Attach one or more photographs of the coral and/or observed area, if available. If possible, include a close-up of the coral and a general photograph of the site. Reports with photographs can be validated with greater confidence; reports without photographs will be considered informational or preliminary and may require later review.