Coral reefs are not plants or rocks; they are colonial animals upon which up to 25% of marine species depend. The danger of devastation that these ancient formations face needs urgent attention.
According to activists, who also stated that overfishing, pollution from agricultural industry, and climate change are the main factors affecting the ecosystem. The decline of coral reefs has been dramatic: in the 1970s, over 50% of them showed signs of life; currently, only 8% of total reefs show signs of life.
Coral reefs have survived for thousands of years, and now humanity is putting them in danger
Coral reefs have survived the extinction of dinosaurs, the ice age, and other massive environmental changes over thousands of years. However, will they survive humanity in this century? The outlook is not very promising.
Coral reefs are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, serving as breeding grounds for a significant portion of marine life, providing a source of food, and offering shelter from predators. Additionally, the economies of some tourist destinations rely on coral reefs: around 275 million people live within 19 miles of a reef.
In 2011, scientists estimated that 75% of all coral reefs are in danger, leading them to believe that by 2050, virtually all these reefs will be in imminent peril.
In some regions like the Dutch Antilles or the Cayman Islands, the situation is less dire as the reefs are not exposed to human impacts such as overfishing and pollution, as well as natural disasters, mainly hurricanes. However, despite this, coral reefs are being “boiled alive.”
The rise in ocean temperatures, a consequence of global warming compounded by human activities such as greenhouse gas emissions, is literally killing coral reefs.
This is a concerning situation because corals are very sensitive to water temperature changes in the ocean and live in symbiosis with microscopic algae inside them that provide energy. When the temperature rises too much, this symbiosis that gives life and energy to the coral breaks down.
When it breaks down, it’s like a fever in humans; the coral is highly stressed, weakens, loses its color, and bleaches. In this state, coral can easily die, and we see that many corals, when they bleach, survive for a few days, weeks, or perhaps months, but in many cases, they perish.
How to prevent coral reefs from dying?
To prevent further damage to this ecosystem, it is necessary to reduce climate change and global warming. There are several actions you can take, such as unplugging electrical devices when not in use, avoiding the use of plastic bags, reducing car usage, adopting a vegetarian diet, and separating waste, especially food waste.
Why are coral reefs so important?
Coral reefs, which many have only seen through colorful photographs or TV documentaries, are not plants but animals, specifically colonial animals called zooids or polyps. Colonies are formed by hundreds of thousands of individuals and can reach enormous sizes.
The microalgae that live in symbiosis inside corals share energy with them through photosynthesis, so corals need to live in clear, shallow waters with plenty of light. With some exceptions, coral is not found at depths greater than 50 meters.
All of this makes coral reefs prosperous, as species depend on them to survive. Corals provide us with food security through fishing, protect us from floods, generate income thanks to the millions of tourists who travel to admire them, and are even the raw material for some medications to fight cancer.