Threats To The Coral Reefs

The coral reefs are under pressure for quite some time. Global warming, fishing and pollution are the main threats. Occasionally hurricanes and tsunamis can be disastrous as well. At the rate this all happens, the coral reefs will disappear in no time. Part of the reefs is already protected, but will this be enough?

Only 40% of the reefs are still healthy, the rest is at risk due to destructive activities; 10% is already completely gone. The expectation is that within 50 years 70% will disappear when current trends continue. Where there were once many species of fish and complex coral reefs, now sea grass and algae can be seen.

Global warming causes coral diseases, bleaching and acidification. But global warming is only part of the destruction of the reefs.  It is the destructive activities of fishing and pollution which started the decline long time ago.

Those nice tropical fish in an aquarium or the delicious fish you find on the menu of restaurants or even at your own home may come from the coral reefs. Fishermen have long ago found out that the reef is the right place for a good catch.  As the global population rapidly increases, so does the need for food. So many people depend on fishing off the reefs. Overfishing is the result, and especially the big fishes are caught, leaving the smaller. Important herbivores are caught as well and this allows the growth of algae and thus changes the ecosystem drastically.

Pollution is another problem:  PCBs, plastic, lead, copper, oil, agricultural chemicals and contaminated soil. Caused by ships, oil rigs, farming, chemical and mining industries.

Hurricanes and tsunamis cause destruction as well. They damage the coral and disturb the sea bed and bring much sediment to the reefs. More sediment in the water means less light, so the reef grows slower. Deforestation, overgrazing, mining and farming exposes sediment and this is discharged in the oceans, contributing to this problem. This all increases algal bloom and degradation of the reef.

Certainly the reefs need protection. A third of the Great Barrier Reef is protected from fishing. In the Caribbean also it is partly protected, but the percentages have to be increased. May be the profits of tourism can contribute to this.