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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Tess McClure

New Zealand records largest ever bleaching of sea sponges

A bleached sea sponge off the coast of Fiordland, on the south island of New Zealand.
A bleached sea sponge off the coast of Fiordland, in the South island of New Zealand. Photograph: Supplied by Professor James Bell

New Zealand is experiencing the largest bleaching of sea sponges ever recorded, scientists say, after extreme ocean temperatures turned millions of the aquatic creatures white.

The discovery comes after researchers raised the alarm in May, when sea sponges off New Zealand’s southern coastline were found bleached for the first time.

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