Turbid-water reefs present unique ecosystems shaped by complex physical and environmental factors. We conducted standardized benthic surveys in 2023 around Inhaca Island, Mozambique, and integrated these with historical data (1935–2025) to assess long-term changes in turbid-water coral assemblages across a gradient of exposure from a sheltered silty area to a sandy system closer to the open ocean. Of eight historically reported sites, three still showed significant coral cover: the sheltered reef Barreira Vermelha 55.0% (SD 5.0%), the semi-exposed Ponta Torres Channel 40.7% (SD 8.8%), and a newly documented Acropora field Ponta Torres New Reef, 64.0% (SD 9.3%). In contrast, Portuguese Island Reef was completely buried, and Ponta Rasa showed much lower coral cover in respect to historical baselines 8.1% (SD 3.0%). Assemblage composition varied according to the type of dominant sediment: tabular and branching corals prevailed at the sheltered Barreira Vermelha, and massive corals dominated the coarse-sediment reef at Ponta Torres Channel. Although coral cover declined over the past five years, levels at these two main reefs remained comparable to those recorded about 20 years ago, indicating long-term persistence of coral assemblages under chronic turbidity.
Yara et al. (Thu,) studied this question.