Protecting the World's Coral Reefs

First things first, what is a coral reef? Coral itself is an animal that belongs to the cnidaria phylum. Other members of that family are jellyfish, hydras, and sea anemones.Unlike its relatives coral is sessile or unable to move on its own. This makes coral particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. As a coral, or polyp as its known, matures it excretes calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is the main ingredient in seashells, eggshells, and limestone. The calcium carbonate acts like a primitive skeleton. As coral dies or is damaged this skeletal remains become a place for other polyps to anchor themselves to. This cycle continues creating a large stony base for the reef.

A healthy reef is much more than coral. Shrimp, lobster crabs, eels, sponges,squid, octopuses, starfish, sea cucumbers, sea turtles and over 4000 species of fish. Even the coral itself is home to an organism that lives within its body called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthella produce food through photosynthesis to share with the coral. Symbiotic relationships like that are interwoven throughout the reef eco-system. With so much interdependence between species, a danger to one becomes a danger to the whole system.

So what? How does some coral and fish affect me?

New medicines to treat arthritis, bacterial infections, heart disease, cancer and many other diseases are being developed from reef plants and animals.

Reefs protect property and lives against dangerous waves and storms by buffering the shoreline.

Some economies are greatly supported by reefs. Whether by commercial fisheries or tourism and recreation, reefs are responsible for circulating millions through some economies

If the coral dies, creatures dependent on the reef die. The creatures dependent on those creatures die. Decomposing plant and animal matter will release noxious gasses in to the atmosphere further decimating plant and animal life on land. Game Over? Maybe, maybe not. I for one don't want to find out.

.What is threatening our reefs? And what can I do about it?

#1 Our stomachs.

Overfishing (and selective overfishing in particular) can upset the delicate balance of a reef. Here's an example:
I love lobster. L-O-V-E it. That sweet, succulent, butter drenched crustacean is amazing dinner but, also an important predator that keeps coral-eating sea urchin populations in check.

Some areas of the world still use blast fishing. Yep, blast fishing, that's using dynamite, homemade pipe bombs, and even hand grenades to indiscriminately stun fish to scoop them up with nets as the float to the surface. The explosive shock waves smash coral formation to bits.

You don't have to give up seafood, but try to know its source. Purchase farm-raised when available.

#2 Our pet stores

I myself am an aquarium aficionado. Of the 4000+ species of reef fish, aquarium hobbyists only care about 200-300 because of their color and ability to live in captivity. Some of those species can reproduce in captivity but many are harvested directly from the reefs. The number of fish harvested isn't nearly as damaging as the method used to harvest. Sodium cyanide is a toxic chemical used to drug fish which are easier to capture, but the cyanide kills many other species than the intended target. The targeted fish often doesn't last long after it been purchased either.

If you are really determined to keep an aquarium, you should do your homework. Find a reputable dealer that gets his stock from a reliable source. It may cost more, but buying a poisoned fish with a drastically shortened lifespan isn't much of a bargain.

#3 Carelessness

Dynamite flinging fools trying to poach fish can definitely devastate a coral reef, but so can those of us trying to appreciate the reef. Boat hulls, props, and anchors can kill big portions of reef. High pressure propulsion of jet skis and personal watercraft can break delicate corals. The chemicals in our sunscreen can also kill coral. Snorkeler's and scuba diver's fins and hands are also guilty of reef depletion.

Carefully navigate away from shallows when boating or riding personal watercraft. Choose mooring buoys instead of dropping anchor. Use reef-safe sunscreen without octinoxate, oxybenzone, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor or the preservative butylparaben when in the water. Oils from you skin can be dangerous to sea critters, and sea critters can be dangerous to you. If you are scuba diving or snorkeling, listen to your mother's advice and KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF! Be aware of those fin-tips as well. Clumsiness can kill delicate creatures.

#4 Pollution

Soil and fertilizer from agricultural runoff can cause certain algae to thrive causing a condition known as an algal bloom which chokes reefs to death by depleting it of oxygen and sometimes sunlight. Many harmful chemicals find their way into the sea. Detergents, petroleum products, paints all wind up in our oceans. Some are leaked from factories others are improperly disposed of by us, the consumers.

Even if you live thousands of miles from the beach you must remember that every river flows to the sea. Be careful of what goes down your drain, or the city storm drains. Try to buy products without harmful chemicals. Purchasing organically farmed products helps reduce pesticide and chemical fertilizer run-off.

#5 Global Warming

This one seems beat to death by the media, but although we may or may not see the effects on land temperature change is apparent through coral bleaching. Higher water temps kills off he zooxanthellae that lives within the coral. The coral is left starving and less immune to disease. High level of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water form carbonic acid. Acidic water=dead seas

We don't know if global warming can be reversed, but we know we can reduce greenhouse gasses. Support companies that use renewable energy. Drive less by walking and biking more. Maybe you could spend less time on that jet ski and more on a kayak.

Whether you live on the coast or in Kansas there is plenty you can do to assist in the protection of our precious reefs. If you'd like to know more contact any or all of these organizations:

Coral Reef Care
Cousteau Society
Earthwatch
Environmental Defense Fund
Global Coral Reef Alliance
International Marinelife Alliance
Marine Conservation Society
Nature Conservancy
Reef Relief
Reefwatch
Wildlife Conservation International
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)