The Damage and Degradation of Coral Reefs

            Coral reefs span about 280,000 square kilometers in the ocean, and are referred to as the rainforests of the sea. The reefs are important to the marine environment just like how the rainforest trees are important to tropical regions; both areas house many organisms and provide protection against predators. Coral reefs benefit the environment in many ways such as protecting the shore form the impact of waves from storms, providing food and medicine for the human population, and providing economic benefits in the form of tourism. According to NOAA, coral reefs provide the economy with $375 billion each year on the form of jobs, food, and tourism.

            Coral reefs are on the decline for a variety of reasons. Coral bleaching is cause by the elevation of the sea surface temperature due to global climate change. Coral bleaching can also occur due to ocean acidification, pollution, and high UV radiation levels. Coral that has been bleached appears to be white, dead looking, and results in not being able to support many organisms. Rising levels of carbon dioxide are also attributed to the dying of coral reefs around the world. Carbon dioxide levels are rising due to ocean acidification. Human disturbances in the environment cause diseases, plagues and other invasive species to decimate the reefs.

            Humans also have a direct link to why the reefs are under so much pressure.  Coastal economies partake in over-fishing, some in which use damaging methods such as bomb and cyanide fishing, which damages the reef ecosystem. Nutrient and chemical is also a major factor in the destruction of coral reefs. Fertilizers and other chemicals leaked into the environment disrupt the ecosystem.  France has also been doing nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean, which harmed the coral population. The development of coastal areas contributes to the demise of the reef population. Industries such as tourism mine coral reef rock and sand beyond their sustainable limits and do not allow the reef to recover.

            Possible solutions to saving the coral reefs are straightforward. Basically, the human population needs to be more considerate to the environment. Industry needs to stop taking more resources from the reefs than the reef can sustain. There also needs to be a halt on the over development on the coastlines. People just need to stop thinking about how they can make money and think about how their decisions can impact the environment.