Coral Reefs: Why They Matter, and How to Keep Them Healthy
Hidden beneath the ocean waters, coral reefs are some of the oldest ecosystems on the planet, reflecting thousands of years of history. Coral reefs support more species than any other marine environment. They also rival rainforests in the amount of biodiversity they support. Thousands of creatures rely on coral reefs for their survival. Although individual coral polyps are tiny, they create the largest living structures on earth—some reefs are visible from space! Approximately 500 million people worldwide depend upon reefs. In fact, 30 million are virtually totally dependent upon them. Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion; provide habitat, spawning, and nursery grounds for economically important fish species; provide jobs and income to local economies from fishing, recreation, and tourism; and are a source of new medicines. Coral reefs contribute approximately $29.8 billion to world economies each year.
However, coral reefs and the magnificent creatures that call them home are threatened by an increasing range of impacts including pollution, invasive species, diseases, bleaching, and global climate change. Together, these and other threats are decimating corals faster than they can adapt for survival. An estimated 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs are damaged beyond recovery, and about half of the remaining ones are under risk of collapse. The rapid decline and loss of these valuable, ancient, and complex ecosystems have significant social, economic, and environmental consequences in the United States and around the world.
Corals are Animals
Corals comprise an ancient and unique partnership called symbiosis that benefits both animal and plant life in the ocean. It is often thought that corals are made of hard material, grow in abundance, and can’t easily be destroyed. However, corals have a very thin and fragile membrane as their outer cover which can easily be punctured. Corals are animals because they do not make their own food as do plants. They have tiny, tentacle-like arms that they use to capture their food from the water and sweep it into their mouths. Most corals are made up of hundreds of thousands of individual polyps which range in size from one to three millimeters in diameter. Calcium carbonate is secreted by reef-building polyps to form a protective cup (called a calyx) within which the polyp sits.
Coral Reef Conservation
In 1998, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) was established to protect and conserve coral reefs. Run by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the CRTF is a body of 12 federal agencies and seven states and territories that are responsible for preserving and protecting reefs around the country. The CRTF maps and monitors U.S. coral reefs; researches the causes of and solutions for coral reef degradation; and promotes conservation and the sustainable use of coral reefs. The group also works to protect international reefs, since reef ecosystems are not limited by international boundaries
Monitoring Health
Using high-resolution satellite imagery and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology, NOAA has made detailed digital maps of reefs in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the eight main Hawaiian Islands and the northwestern ones. Satellite technology can detect harmful algal blooms that can smother reefs. GPS is also used to monitor elevated sea surface temperatures, which can cause coral bleaching. NOAA additionally monitors reefs using the Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS). This system consists of buoys deployed at reef sites that measure air temperature, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, sea temperature, salinity, and tide levels. Every hour, data are transmitted to scientists to help them understand real-time conditions of coral reefs.
Individual Responsibility
Coral reefs are some of the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on earth. They also constitute the most sought-after destinations for vacationers and scuba divers. In the big scheme of things, it may come down to individual responsibility to care for reefs that result in their conservation and recovery.
Become Reef-Friendly!
Leave corals and shells in their place.
Don’t take corals home for souvenirs; they are alive and are home for many animals. Coral also plays an important role in creating beautiful, sandy beaches. In many coastal states and territories collecting corals as souvenirs is prohibited.
Observe corals from a safe distance.
Don’t touch! They are fragile animals. Be careful not to touch, kick, or stand on the corals you see in the water because this may damage or even kill them. Stirred-up sediment can smother them, and each inch of reef can take decades to redevelop once broken.
Don’t litter.
Dispose of waste properly, and recycle whenever possible. Anything left on the beach ends up in the ocean. Litter, such as plastic bags and bottles, can become entangled on corals. Marine life also often mistake trash for food.
Be a cautious boater.
Ask about the locations of mooring buoys so you can safely tie off your boat without damaging reefs or any surrounding marine life. Always anchor your boat in areas with a sandy bottom. Anchoring on corals or in a seagrass bed will cause damage.
Avoid using sunscreen.
There have been some recent studies that show sunscreens are harmful to corals as well. To avoid sun damage, we suggest wearing a UV-protective rash guard or shirt instead of loading up on sunscreen.
Educate yourself about coral reefs and the creatures they support.
How many different species live in reefs? What new medicines have been developed from reef organisms? Participate in training or educational programs that focus on reef ecology. When you further your own education, you can help others understand the fragility and value of the world’s coral reefs.
Hire local guides when visiting coral reef ecosystems.
This will help you learn about local resources and protect the future of the reef by supporting the local economy.
Support reef-friendly businesses.
Ask what your dive shop, boating store, tour operator, hotel and other coastal businesses are doing to save coral reefs. This is especially important in coastal areas with reefs. Let them know you are an informed consumer and care about reefs.
For more articles about the environment, check out the "Where We Sail" column in each month's print edition of SpinSheet!
