India, April 30 -- Four of six key coral regions suffer higher domestic wastewater pollution inside MPAs than in unprotected waters.

Excess nitrogen from sewage weakens coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves and amplifies bleaching and disease.

It also undermines biodiversity goals, prompting calls to integrate wastewater control into 30x30 conservation plans.

Marine Protected Areas (MPA) designed to save tropical coral reefs are currently exposed to higher levels of untreated or poorly treated domestic wastewater pollution than unprotected waters, according to a new report. This increases their vulnerability to bleaching events, diseases and slow recovery after disturbances.

The study published in the journal Ocean and Coastal Managemen...