Threatened Coral Reefs

The World Resources Institute, along with 24 other organizations, published a report stating that the amount of threatened coral reefs has increased from 58% to 75% within the past decade. Activities such as overfishing, destructive fishing, and pollution are all leading causes of the deterioration of coral reefs. Global warming, which increases bleaching and oceanic acidification, also makes it difficult for coral to grow.

It has been estimated that more than 90% of coral reefs will be endangered by 2030, and nearly all reefs will be at risk by 2050. If these predictions are proven true, nearly 275 million people who depend on coral reefs for their livelihood will be affected. Countries such as Haiti, Indonesia, and the Philippines whose local communities rely heavily on these reefs as a major food source will severely threatened.

The report concluded that, in order to slow the decline of coral reefs, more effective marine protected areas need to be put into effect. Currently, nearly 27% of reefs are in parks/reserves, however only 6% are effective. In addition, there needs to be a reduction in carbon dioxide levels in order to decrease bleaching and oceanic acidification.

I chose this article because I have recently become certified in scuba diving, and have begun to experience the beauty of sea life up close. There is nothing in the world like swimming through a maze of coral reef alongside of sea turtles and colorful fish. Preserving these reefs is not only important for people who enjoy experiencing live underwater, like myself, or for people who rely on these reefs as a means of food, it is also important because it is the habitat that many smaller sea creatures use to protect themselves. Damaging coral reefs will destroy the only means of protection for many smaller fish, which will in turn have an impact on the food chain. In addition to marine protected areas, and reduction in carbon dioxide, I feel that scientists could collect and breed coral in man-made aquariums as an effort to protect coral reefs. This coral could then be cultivated and placed into reef environments in order to repopulate what has been lost.

Source: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/02/three-quarters-of-coral-reefs.html?ref=hp