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Coral Grief
Our Reefs are in trouble! | SEFRCRI Focus teams
Our reefs are in trouble!
Coral cover on many Caribbean reefs has
declined by 80% over the past three decades. Southeast
Florida reefs, which are a part of the greater Caribbean
reef system, are being monitored for diseases, bleaching
and other problems associated with human activities.
Research stations in the Florida Keys have revealed
at least a 37% loss of coral cover since 1996. Since
corals are very slow-growing, this loss represents
a serious and significant threat to local coral ecosystems.
Garner, Toby A., Isabelle M. Cote, Jennifer
A. Gill. Allistair Grant, and Andrew R. Watkinson. "Long
term region-wide declines in Caribbean Corals." Science
301 (July 2003): 958-960
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PDF
Jaap, Walter C., James W. Porter, Jennifer
Wheaton, Carl R. Beaver, Keith Hackett, Mattew Lybolt,
M.K. Callahan, Jim Kidney, Selena Kupfner, Cecilia
Torres, and Kathryn Sutherland. EPA/NOAA Coral Reef
Evaluation and Monitoring
Project. - Fish & Wildlife Research Institute
(2003)
Two species of coral (Acropora cervicornis
and Acropora. palmata) that live in south Florida waters
and throughout the Caribbean were recently proposed
for protection under the federal Endangered Species
Act, a powerful law that has never been used before
to protect coral. The listing of these species is a
strong indication that coral reefs are threatened.
#1:
Discarded trash makes its way to our bays
and oceans with storm water runoff.
Photo: Christopher Boykin
#2:
Household chemicals dumped down storm water drains
make their way to our bays and oceans with storm water runoff.
Photo: Florida Sea Grant, Broward County
#3:
Physical contact from anchors, fishing gear
and dive equipment can harm fragile coral polyps.
Photo: Jerry Metz
#4:
Abandoned or misplaced fishing gear can harm
delicate corals and associated marine life.
Photo: Jerry Metz
#5:
Treated wastewater outfalls, storm water and agricultural runoff
increase turbidity, nutrients and other coastal water pollutants,
which are harmful to coral reefs.
Photo: Brad Bedford
#6:
Impacts from vessel groundings, coastal construction
and dredging projects can physically damage large sections
of a reef system and suspend sediments that reduce water quality
and clarity necessary for healthy reefs.
Photo: Dave Gilliam |
