An estimated 109,800 square miles of the ocean’s surface area is covered by coral reefs [10]. Coral reefs are ocean ecosystems that contain a diverse collection of species that interact with each other and their environment [4]. These biomes are important because they protect our coastlines, provide local communities with jobs, and are a source of food and medicines. Half a billion people depend on coral reefs for these reasons, as well as the twenty-five percent of marine life that is dependent on coral reefs [3]. However, the reefs are endangered and rapidly dying, and half of the ocean’s reefs are already dead [13]. The main threats to the reefs are pollution, overfishing, coral mining, destructive fishing practices, warming climates, and ocean acidification.
There is debate on what is the best way to help preserve coral reefs. Many serious coral reef stressors come from land-based sources. Pollution, like that which comes from plastic. Over and destructive fishing, which uses techniques that harm many ocean ecosystems. Coral mining destroys the coral in the reefs. Ocean acidification and warming temperatures are the two global influences that affect the reefs, causing increased damage to coral reefs such as coral bleaching. Humans should make an active effort to help reduce the harm done to coral reefs.
Pollution
Plastic in Coral Reef (Tane Sinclair-Taylor)
Pollution has many negative effects on the environment, one of them being its harm to the coral reefs. Agriculture, deforestation, fires, road building, and urbanization have all increased the volume of pollution released that affects the reefs. The pollution causes disease, disrupts ecological function, and impedes growth and reproduction. The plastic waste in the ocean is also a major problem for coral reefs, with up to 8 million tons of plastic ending up in the ocean a year [11]. 159 reefs in the Pacific are being killed because of plastic pollution because the plastic causes disease [9]. When a reef is polluted with plastic the risk of disease can be up to 22 times greater compared to an untouched reef. Three of the four most common coral diseases, aspergillosis, black band disease, plague, and white band disease, are caused by plastic [11]. It is estimated that by 2025, 15.7 billion plastic pieces could come into and affect coral reefs [9].
Overfishing and Destructive Fishing
Coral reef fish are a food source for over a billion people, one of the many reasons for fishing as well as income, sport, and pleasure. Fishing is often the central social and cultural role of communities near the coast. However, fishing can be harmful and have negative effects on coral reefs. It causes the depletion of many key species that are important to the reefs. Which in turn, causes a ripple effect on the reefs and the economies that depend on them. Fishing gear can also lead to serious physical damage to these important habitats. Overfishing is increasing due to increased demand population growth, and the use of more efficient fishing technology. The easiest way to help with this issue is to educate yourself on local fishing rules and regulations [1]. Destructive fishing can happen in many different ways. Ranging from trawling to fishing with dynamite. These methods cause physical destruction to the reefs and the deaths of many of the species living there [7].
Coral Mining
Person Coral Mining
Coral mining is used for many purposes around the world. It usually occurs at low tide when it is easier to mine and gather the coral. It is mainly mined to be used as limestone or as a cement substitute to be used as a building material. In 1995 in the Maldives 20,000 cubic meters of coral a year were collected for construction purposes. The reason is that it is the cheapest material to use for this construction. Coral can also be made into calcium supplements or used to make lime. The lime is used to help raise the pH of soil for farming. It is also mined for use in the medical field to help bone graph clinical trials and for fashion, and jewelry purposes. There are different ways that this mining is done. The first is with dynamite causing it to break up the coral into smaller pieces. Resulting in a lot of damage to the reefs. Another popular method is manual mining. Which is when collectors manually retrieve the coral and break it using iron bars. This has many negative effects on the coral. It causes erosion, loss of biodiversity, economic loss, and a slow recovery. Reefs that have been mined can take up to 20 or more years to recover due to these negative effects [12].
Ocean Acidification and Warming Climates
Over the past 100 years, the pH of the ocean surface waters has changed and was caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) entering the ocean. This process is often referred to as ocean acidification [2]. The acidification reduces the populations of the many species that live in the coral reefs [5]. It also affects the coral, causing them to dissolve. The acidic water alters the chemistry causing them to build weaker shells and become more susceptible to predation and disease [8]. The average temperature of the tropical oceans has increased by 0.1 Celsius over the past century [9]. The warming temperatures of the ocean have a strong effect on how animals distribute themselves, which affects the species that are in the reefs [6]. Another effect of these rising temperatures is they cause extensive coral bleaching, affecting thousands of miles of reefs [10]. Although these are not effects that stem from human activities, since they are caused by climate change, they still are important to acknowledge and recognize.
Conclusion
The conservation of coral reefs is important to help preserve the ecosystems that many oceanic and human life depend on. Doing this will take an effort to stop the harmful effects done by humans. The pollution from our crops and waste causes disease to the coral. Over and destructive fishing causes reduced biodiversity in the species living in the reefs as well as physical damage. Coral mining actively takes away the coral and causes slow recovery to the reefs. To help reduce the harm done to the reefs there are many things people can do to help. Starting by actively reducing the amount of plastic waste they use and making sure to recycle. As well as, using unharmful fishing techniques and keeping updated on the fishing regulations and rules in the area. Finally, stopping coral mining would be another very effective way to help conserve coral reefs. Beyond individuals, we should call upon policymakers to implement changes in industries that affect coral reefs. Changes in the agriculture industry that prevent the use of destructive pollutants. Further policies can hold those who damage the reefs accountable for their actions or provide an alternative. The people of the Maldives have limited choice for building materials but with assistance from outside an alternative can be found that will benefit them and keep the coral reefs from being mined.
Although there is still damage being done to the coral reefs based on the effects of climate change. Making a change to help the environment helps more than people think. Not only would humans and other ecosystems benefit from it, but so would coral reef.
References
[1] National Ocean Service. “How does overfishing threaten coral reefs?” NOAA’s National Ocean Service, 2024,
[2] Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove, et al. “Coral Reef Ecosystems under Climate Change and Ocean Acidification.” Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 4, 2017, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2017.00158/full.
[3] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Coral reef ecosystems.” NOAA’s Education Resources, 2019,
[4] “Basic Information about Coral Reefs.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 8 May 2024, www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/basic-information-about-coral-reefs. Accessed 8 July 2024.
[5] Wear, Stephanie L. “Missing the Boat: Critical Threats to Coral Reefs Are Neglected at Global Scale.” Marine Policy, vol. 74, 2016, pp. 153-157. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2016.09.009. Accessed 7 July 2024.
[6] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Effects of Ocean and Coastal Acidification on Ecosystems.” EPA, 2024, www.epa.gov/ocean-acidification/effects-ocean-and-coastal-acidification-ecosystems. Accessed 7 July 2024.
[7] “Local Stressors.” Reef Resilience, The Nature Conservancy, https://reefresilience.org/stressors/local-stressors/. Accessed 7 July 2024.
[8] Waters, Hannah. “Searching for the Ocean Acidification Signal.” Smithsonian Ocean, Smithsonian Institution, https://ocean.si.edu/planet-ocean/temperature-chemistry/searching-ocean-acidification-signal. Accessed 8 July 2024.
[9] Cho, Renée. “Losing Our Coral Reefs.” State of the Planet, Columbia Climate School, 13 June 2011, https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2011/06/13/losing-our-coral-reefs/. Accessed 8 July 2024.
[10] “Coral reef.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 July 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef.
[11] Encyclopédie de l’environnement. “Plastic: A Danger to Coral Reefs.” Encyclopédie de l’environnement, 2023, www.encyclopedie-environnement.org/en/zoom/plastic-a-danger-to-coral-reefs/. Accessed 7 July 2024.
[12] “Coral Mining.” Coral Digest, http://coraldigest.org/index.php/CoralMining. Accessed 7 July 2024.
[13] Reef-World Foundation. “ICRI Post-2020: A New Decade for Coral Reefs.” Reef-World Foundation, 2024, https://reef-world.org/blog/icri-post-2020.
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