Local researchers are sounding the alarm about warming waters off the coast of South Florida, and they have also discovered bleaching in corals that are typically more resilient.

Octocorals in the ocean off Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach are turning white at an unusual rate this year.

Researchers with Nova Southeastern University recently dove into the water to find the sea creatures bleaching, despite their greater ability to withstand higher temperatures

Video shows what the researchers saw.

Dr. Jose Lopez is with NSU’s National Coral Reef Initiative and went into the water just a few weeks ago.

He said the soft corals are bleaching at 90-to-100%.

“We have to do what we can to lower greenhouse gases and cut back on fossil fuel use because we know these gases accumulate in the atmo

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