Marine heat wave linked to death of Fiordland sponges

Media release – Warming waters in Fiordland could be responsible for the loss of up to 10 percent of one of the most abundant marine sponges in Pātea—Doubtful Sound. More sponges may have been lost further south in Tamatea—Dusky Sound and Te Puaitaha—Breaksea Sound.

Widespread bleaching of sponges (Cymbastella lamellata) was discovered in May 2022 by researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. This bleaching was linked to an extreme marine heatwave and affected millions of sponges.