Context:

Sea anemone bleaching has been observed for the first time in the Lakshadweep group of islands.

About Sea Anemones

• They are a group of predatory marine invertebrates of the order Actiniaria. They are an aquatic animal marked by soft bodies and an ability to sting.
• They are named after theAnemone, a terrestrial flowering plant because of their colourful appearance.
• They are usually brightly coloured, adopting shades of white, green, blue, orange, red or mauve, often contributing to the spectacular walls of invertebrates populating reefs.

Threats: 

• Bleaching is making sea anemone more susceptible to diseases and increases mortality.
• The loss of symbiotic algae deprives sea anemones of their primary energy source, compromising their long-term survival.

Protective Measures:

• There is an urgent need for comprehensive conservation efforts in the Lakshadweep.
• Mitigating climate change through global emissions reductions is paramount to curbing rising sea temperature, which is noticed to be 33°C in the Agatti island, where mass bleaching of anemone has been documented.