Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 1

Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs

Sheehan Parker

Global Connections

Mr. Falls

2019-2020
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 2

Abstract

Coral reefs affect the lives of millions of people every single day in countless ways.
Though coral reefs cover less than 1% of the earth’s surface, they make up a vast amount
of biodiversity in the ocean. The most detrimental factors in coral reef decline are
climate change, human activities like overfishing and offshore drilling, and increasingly
prevalent disease. While the decline of coral reefs worldwide has been a growing issue
for several decades, scientists and legislators are making huge strides to reverse this
decline. The focus of this paper will be to explore the importance of coral reefs on the
ecosystem, identify and discuss the problems, and to propose solutions to these
problems.
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 3

Table of Contents

Abstract 2

Table of Contents 3

Introduction 4

Literature Review 5

Limitations 9

Discussion 10

Conclusion 23

Bibliography 24
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 4

Introduction

Coral reefs are, in many ways, one of the earth’s most important ecosystems; they

provide homes to a vast array of marine life from microorganisms to corals and fish and

provide coastal communities with billions of dollars of income (Brown, 2017). However,

in recent years, reef health has been declining, and the problem only appears to be

getting worse. In fact, it is projected that at the current rate of decline, almost 70% of

reefs on Earth will be destroyed by the 2030’s (Stone et al, 1996). Are there specific

reasons as to why this is happening, and if so, is there any way humans can lessen their

impacts? While it is nearly impossible to pinpoint one specific cause, as there are many,

a few major causes have been identified and further research into their nature and

environmental impact is ongoing. The most prominent and broad issue appears to be

climate change, especially since it is often the catalyst for other problems such as

increased rate and severity of disease (Bruno et al, 2007). However, there is a multitude

of different causes such as overfishing, destructive fishing habits (e.g. cyanide fishing,

blast fishing), pollution and runoff, and diseases. Luckily, in response to this, several

countries with significant reefs such as Southeast Asian nations along the coral triangle

(Chou, 2000) and Australia (Azam et al, 2009), have become more proactive in reef

conservation.

Even with the increasing efforts of individuals and governmental bodies, the

issue of globally worsening coral reef health is dire and unavoidable. If left unchecked,

the aforementioned problems will inevitably cause the destruction of most, if not all, of
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 5

the Earth’s reefs. The result of this would be economically and ecologically catastrophic,

which is why these issues must be addressed to ensure a bright future for the Earth’s

oceans.
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 6

Literature Review

It is generally agreed upon that coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse,

ecologically important ecosystems on earth, and research indicates that biodiversity in

reefs is even greater than previously thought (Small et al, 1998). In recent years,

however, increasingly sophisticated and accurate research indicates that coral reef

health is globally on the decline (Stone et al, 1996). While there are a multitude of

causes, the ones primarily discussed in this paper are human activities such as

destructive and excessive fishing, coral mining (Soede et al, 2000), climate change, and

diseases. Many of these issues are intertwined, and some are actually dependent on

others such as coral bleaching events being linked to climate change-related rises in sea

temperature (Bruno et al, 2007). The primary purpose of this paper is to explain and

discuss the problems being faced by coral reefs, the importance of coral reefs, as well as

existing and potential future solutions to this problem.

Reefs and their Importance

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has published

several comprehensive articles about coral reefs, including one used as a resource for

this paper. “​Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine

environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and

hundreds of other species. Scientists estimate that there may be another 1 to 8 million

undiscovered species of organisms living in and around reefs (Reaka-Kudla, 1997”

states one article, used to explain the importance of reefs on the ocean ecosystem

(NOAA, n.d.).
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 7

Overall, while coral reefs only cover 1% of the planet’s surface, they contain a

staggering amount of the ocean’s biodiversity. One study, which could only be partially

utilized due to a paywall, provides statistics relevant to the topic of reef importance,

such as how the coral triangle of Southeast Asia contains 52% of reef creature species in

the area (Allen, 2007). This study was also used because it focuses on reef biodiversity in

Southeast Asia specifically, a region sometimes ignored in other studies in favor of more

famous Pacific reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef.

Issues: causes & effects

Among the abundant problems facing coral reef sustainability is disease, which is

caused in part by rising temperatures in tropical waters (Bruno et al, 2007). These

diseases have become something of an epidemic, and research on these issues is still

relatively limited and poorly understood (Dennis, 2008). Since even slight increases in

tropical waters can worsen and even cause fatal coral diseases, climate change is also a

growing concern. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, a

microorganism living in the tissue of the coral (Stone, 2018). The quote: “It is now well

established that increased temperature plays a significant role in disrupting the

symbiosis between coral hosts and zooxanthellae leading to coral bleaching” shows the

relationship between coral bleaching events, zooxanthellae health, and rising

temperatures (Abdo et al, 2012).

Combined with climate change and bleaching events, coral breeding patterns can

also have a negative impact on coral reef health. Some coral species have strange and

very specific breeding patterns, such as only breeding during a specific week each year
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 8

and only under very specific conditions. Research conducted in the Florida Keys

suggests that this can actually be a hindrance to the corals (Stone, 2018).

Human activities can also have a direct impact on coral reefs. In Indonesia, for

example, the practice of blast fishing, a destructive type of fishing used to capture

tropical schooling reef fish, has been hugely detrimental to reef health in the region.

This method can cause the collapse of coral reef structure, potentially killing the reef

(Soede et al, 2000). Additionally, commercial coral harvesting, also known as coral

mining, while economically lucrative, has caused harm to reefs in Southeast Asia (Soede

et al, 2000)

Solutions

However, while coral reefs are struggling worldwide, things are being done to

solve this problem. The Great Barrier Reef, one of Earth’s largest and most vital reefs, is

situated in Australia. Since the health of this reef has been declining steadily over the

last several decades (Stone et al, 1996), the Australian government has taken initiative

in the form of new legislation and cooperation with international institutions to stop the

reef from being further destroyed. The Great Barrier Reef was placed on the World

Heritage List in 1981, meaning the Australian government is required by international

law “to perform the obligations imposed by the convention in relation to the Great

Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) in good faith.” (Azam et al, 2009). The

government also enacted a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, focusing partially on

restoring the health of reefs (Azam et al, 2009). Additionally, in ASEAN countries, while
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 9

government efforts have been largely unsuccessful, community-led initiatives have

proven to be more effective (Chou, 2000).

In addition to political efforts, scientific measures are also being taken to restore

reef health. Researchers with the Georgia Aquarium and other institutions are

implementing an assisted coral breeding program in the Florida Keys in order to

promote growth of new coral. They are trying to better understand the breeding patterns

of reefs, and subsequently breeding them in labs. The coral are then relocated to the

ocean in hopes of starting a new reef or helping encourage healthy reefs (Stone, 2018).

In Hawai’i, researchers are tracking coral bleaching by creating time lapses of

photographs taken of reefs in various stages of bleaching (Finnerty, 2019). This sort of

revolutionary research is changing scientists' understanding of bleaching, thus helping

them find ways to stop it.

Limitations

The author recognizes that there are some distinct limitations by which this

paper is bound. The author also recognizes her bias regarding the topic of ocean-related

environmental conservation because of her status as a resident of a coastal city with a

tourism-driven economy. Because of this acknowledgement of bias, she has carefully

strived to ensure this bias did not affect the research or the conclusion drawn in this

paper. Only relevant and trustworthy sources were employed in the research for this

paper. Additionally, this paper focuses almost exclusively on research conducted and

data acquired from the 1980’s to the present. This decision was made because most

coral bleaching has occurred within this time period, and because during this time this

issue became a more prevalent and common topic of research. In addition to having a

specific time period, the main regions of focus for this paper are the Florida Keys,

Australia -- specifically the Great Barrier Reef--, and coastal Southeast Asian nations

such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste. The author chose to focus on these

specific locations because these regions possess some of the largest and most biodiverse

reefs, as well as being prime examples of negative economic impact of coral bleaching.
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 11

Discussion

Coral reefs are almost universally regarded as the ocean’s equivalent to terrestrial

tropical rainforests. However, since around the 1980s, coral bleaching and reef

degradation have become increasingly severe, threatening the ocean’s fragile ecosystems

and biodiversity worldwide. A combination of factors, many of which are a direct

consequence of human activity, including overfishing and excessive coral harvesting,

rising sea temperatures, and disease, the health of vital coral reefs around the globe is

being threatened. Coral reef degradation is having a profoundly negative impact on not

only the ocean’s ecosystems and biodiversity, but also the economic health of coastal

communities which often depend on the reefs. If action is not taken, the effect of this

issue will have an irreversible impact on the earth’s ecosystems and will negatively affect

not only the earth, but human interests as well.

Coral reefs are, in simple terms, large groups of corals (which are, contrary to

popular belief, living creatures) which form the reef itself; these groups of corals become

an ideal environment for other creatures, microscopic and macroscopic alike, to thrive.

Reefs are specifically important for biodiversity, acting as a home to a wide variety of

corals, fish, reef invertebrates, microorganisms, and other plants and animals (Sebens,

2015). In fact, according to NOAA, there are about 4,000 individual species of fish, 800

species of hard coral, and an abundance of other organisms, all coexisting in one single

unit area in average healthy coral reefs; this amount of biodiversity is unparalleled and

not found in any other known aquatic ecosystem (NOAA, n.d.). Overall, coral reefs
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 12

support about 25% of all marine life, massively disproportionate in regards to the

percentage of the ocean covered by reefs (Dennis, 2018). Scientists estimate that there

may be as many as eight million reef-reliant species that have yet to be discovered

(NOAA, n.d.). Additionally, research indicates that previous estimates may be vastly

underestimating the amount of biodiversity housed in reefs (Small et al, 1998). Some of

the most densely populated and biodiverse reefs exist in the “coral triangle” in the

Pacific; this area includes Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea,

Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands. The coral triangle is known for having

unprecedented amounts of biodiversity, containing 52% of species in this region of the

Pacific while only taking up 3% of its total area (Allen, 2007). In addition to sustaining

highly biodiverse populations of coral and reef fish, reefs serve as an economic backbone

for coastal communities worldwide. Reefs are estimated to have an annual global net

worth of upwards of $375 billion each year (NOAA). The Florida Keys is a prime

example of a community reliant on reefs for economic sustenance, with the surrounding

reefs having an estimated asset value in 2001 of $7.6 billion (Johns et al., 2001).

Though reefs cover less than 1% of the planet’s surface, they have been observed

to have a profound and direct impact on humans, especially socio-economic activities.

All economies in areas located by reefs are, to varying degrees, dependent on or

supplemented by the surrounding reef system(s). The Florida Keys is no exception, with

about half of the jobs in the region being generated by often reef-related tourism

(Brown, 2017). “​Three and a half million people visit [the Keys] every year, including

many divers and fishermen who rely on the reef’s bounty. Without environmental
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 13

stewardship to protect the reefs, they may well travel elsewhere,” Brown writes in a

study on reef economics. This human dependency is one of several reasons why

conserving and protecting reef health and biodiversity is so important.

As mentioned above, coral reefs have been proven to be economically and

ecologically vital for humans and the Earth. This demonstrated importance to the

environment and the economy is one of the many reasons why these reefs must be

conserved. However, in recent years, a combination of several complex factors have

caused their decline and degradation. “While reef habitats appear to be robust enough to

withstand almost anything, they are extremely fragile,” explains John Weier, a writer for

NASA. Back in 2001, it was estimated that almost 30% of reefs had already been

destroyed, and that number has only risen since then (Weier, 2001). In one study,

annual surveys of eight reefs over the course of seven years showed a shocking decrease

in coral cover from around 66% to 7% in this short period of time (Jones et al, 2004).

This decline in coral cover can be disastrous for reef-dependent fish species, as many

species rely on reefs for their habitat. When coral decline happens this drastically, these

fish will either die off, potentially spurring on extinctions, or move to different reefs and,

problematically, decrease biodiversity in their original homes. This can be shown

through the same study which showed that the diversity of fish species in affected reefs

had decreased by 22% (Jones et al, 2004).

Direct human activities like harmful fishing and coral harvesting techniques, and

overfishing can be some of the most detrimental factors in the global decline in reef

health. Some widely used fishing techniques have been criticized for their negative
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 14

impact on coral reefs and the environment as a whole, such as cyanide fishing. Prevalent

in Indonesia for the live food market, this method can cause bleaching by catalyzing

chemical reactions between the cyanide and zooxanthellae in the coral (Mous et al, n.d.).

Cyanide fishing actually has a relatively low recorded impact on reef health, but the

problem lies within the rate of coral recovery when compared to its impact (Mous et al,

n.d.). Corals are complex organisms which take significant amounts of time to grow and

replenish themselves, and cyanide fishing not only impedes this regrowth, but kills

corals at a comparable and sometimes even higher rate than they can replenish

themselves.

Similarly, blast fishing, a method which utilizes bombs to catch reef fish, has also

been shown to have a significant negative impact on the health of reefs. Whereas

cyanide fishing has a more subtle impact on reefs, blast fishing is far more sensational

and drastic in comparison. It is widely regarded as one of the biggest threats that human

activity poses to reefs (Pet-Soede et al, 1999). The impacts of blast fishing are vast, as it

not only unnecessarily kills large amounts of fish, but actually destroys the very

structure of the affected reefs, hindering regorowth (Pet-Soede et al, 1999). While this

practice is outlawed in countries like Indonesia where it is prevalent, illegal use of this

method continues. Use of unnecessary and harmful techniques of fishing such as these

is a persistent problem, and can have catastrophic effects on the ecosystem.

Although the incentive to utilize these methods is often that of economic gain,

any gain yielded is short-term, as these methods are not sustainable and will lead to a

depletion of resources. Additionally, these practices are particularly destructive in these

regions due to the heavy reliance on reefs for seafood by local populations. In regions

which may be more prone to food shortages, the fifteen million tons of edible fish per

year which a healthy reef is estimated to provide is massively important (Denecke,

2001). This dependence on reefs for food is yet another reason why reef conservation is

so vital.

Overfishing is not the only way in which human activities are directly harming

reefs; commercial coral harvesting and the introduction of invasive non-native species

have also proven to be detrimental. Coral harvesting is the often-illegal practice of

removing corals from their natural habitat and selling them to a wide variety of buyers

from construction sites to aquarists. Coral cover where mining has taken place has been

shown to be only a fraction of what is normal in the absence of extraction (Cesar et al,

n.d.). Coral harvesting is often a way through which people try to make money and

alleviate poverty, but as was previously mentioned, mismanagement of natural

resources leads to resource depletion and ultimately net economic loss.

Along the same lines, the introduction of invasive species, often by aquarists, and

the removal of fish from their natural habitat for the aquarium industry is also a

growing problem. It is estimated that up to twenty million individual tropical fish are

removed from reefs to be sold for aquariums each year, which has been shown to

severely impact the biodiversity of coral reefs (Earth Island Journal, 2005). While this is

not directly the fault of aquarists, this situation is an excellent example of how

individuals can use their influence over markets to help end environmental degradation.

For aquarists, by simply choosing to be more careful about from whom and from where
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 16

one is buying coral, the effects of coral and tropical fish harvesting could potentially be

lessened if not entirely solved.

Other than human impact, one of the most elusive and least understood causes of

the decline in coral reefs is that many types of coral such as Staghorn and Elkhorn, both

being common hard corals, have a very unique method of sexual reproduction, and can

only breed under very specific conditions. These specific species are often only capable

of reproducing during one week each year, and only under certain conditions (Stone,

2018). The infrequency of and precise requirements needed for coral breeding can

actually be a dangerous hindrance to reef health because oftentimes the healthy corals

are replenishing the population at a slower rate than corals are dying. Yet another

hindrance to productive breeding is introduced as a result of large-scale coral mortality;

since corals are dying at unprecedented rates, there is generally more space between

groups of healthy corals (Stone, 2018). This makes it far harder for the reproductive

material of one healthy coral group to find another, thus making reproduction more

difficult and less likely to be successful.

Another growing problem facing reefs is disease. “Sadly, in recent decades, coral

reefs have catastrophically declined around the world, and disease has been a major

contributor.” (Dennis, 2008). However, causes and specific details about various

diseases of corals are still largely unknown and more research must be done to expand

our understanding of it (Dennis, 2018). Rising sea temperatures and changes in the

chemical composition of sea water as a result of human activity and climate change is

also a factor in the recent increase in prevalence of coral diseases (Bruno et al, 2007).
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 17

Additionally, the impact of disease on coral populations is worsened by the

aforementioned breeding patterns, as the healthy corals may not be able to replenish

those depleted by disease quickly enough to be sustainable. One of the most prevalent

diseases threatening coral reef health is white syndrome, a fatal disease in the Pacific

similar to Caribbean ‘white diseases’ like white band and white plague. These diseases

are characterized by white spots or bands on living corals and an exposed skeleton; this

condition is infectious and very destructive. There is also a clear link between

temperature spikes and prevalence of these diseases (Bruno et al, 2007). Because of the

destructive and deadly nature of coral diseases like white syndrome, the effects of

climate change could be disastrous for reef health; it is very likely that warming ocean

temperatures worldwide are contributing to the recent increase in disease-related coral

mortality (Bruno et al. 2007).

Though these are all major issues, the most prevalent issue regarding reef decline

is climate change. ​As was previously mentioned, corals themselves are invertebrate

animals. “Within their tissue, [corals] have algae cells called zooxanthellae that are

photosynthetic. It is a symbiotic relationship,” says Kim Stone, a researcher at the

Georgia Aquarium. Coral bleaching, simply put, is when the zooxanthellae leave the

tissue of the coral, thus depriving the coral of vital nutrients. When this happens, the

affected coral will generally die due in part to the lack of zooxanthellae providing them

with nutrients (Stone, Baker, 2018). Coral bleaching events are more likely to happen

and to be more severe when tropical sea temperatures rise abnormally

(Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Coral reefs are sustained through the symbiotic relationship
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 18

between dinoflagellates (including zooxanthellae) and reef-building corals, and when

this balance is interrupted, the corals often die; this process is known as bleaching.

Although corals thrive almost exclusively in tropical waters such as those found

in southeast Asia, central America, and Australia, abnormally high temperatures can

still cause harm. While it is true that some common and relatively natural stressors such

as tropical storms can also cause bleaching (Crawford, n.d.), the problem lies in the

intensity and sustained nature of temperature increases when caused by climate change.

Coral bleaching is not always fatal when individual bleaching events are short-lived.

However, since the higher temperatures and abnormal conditions are sustained as

opposed to temporary (as with tropical storms), the impact is much greater and often

causes mortality. “​The impacts of marine epidemics could increase if warm temperature

anomalies become more frequent or extreme as predicted by several climate change

models,” one study predicts (Bruno et al, 2007).

An interesting phenomenon regarding ocean temperatures is taking place in

Timor-Leste, a nation on the Southeast Asian coral triangle. Reefs in this area seem to

be doing better than many others: why is that? It is predicted to be because of the

presence of predominantly cool water. Unlike many other nations along the coral

triangle whose reefs are doing poorly and dying at unprecedented rates, Timor-Leste’s

reefs are showing “relatively low levels of recent injury overall, other than at Lamsana

Inlet, where an active crown-of-thorns seastar outbreak was occurring,” (Turak et al,

n.d.). The water temperatures in these healthy reefs was observed to be several degrees

cooler than some of the surrounding poorer-performing reefs. Why is Timor-Leste’s

water so much cooler than surrounding waters? As described in a study, it has to do with

oceanography: “Timor-Leste’s oceanography may provide a cool water buffer and refuge

against the increasing sea temperatures predicted from climate change over coming

decades.'' (Turak et al, n.d.). This information is important in understanding the effects

of average ocean temperature and temperature increases on reef health. The prevalence

of cooler waters combined with the healthier corals of this region are solid indicators

that rising sea temperatures are counterproductive for the health of reefs and that reefs

thrive in cooler tropical waters unaffected by climate change.

As was previously mentioned, rises in sea temperatures have also been proven to

cause an increase in the frequency and severity of coral diseases (Bruno et al, 2007).

While there are some natural fluctuations in sea temperatures, the temperature, salinity,

and light exposure tend to stay relatively stable in regions where reefs thrive. In fact,

shifts caused by time of day and season are recorded as being very small, and research

suggests that sea temperature in tropical locations has actually shifted less than 2

degrees celsius over the past 18,000 years (​Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). However, with the

effects of climate change in recent years, the increases have been far more dramatic and,

in many circumstances, contributed to the death and depletion of reef coral

(​Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999).

In addition to climate change-related temperature shifts, substantial changes in

salinity may also negatively impact coral health and, in some cases, even cause

mortality. While corals are more resilient to salinity changes than temperature changes,

very large shifts over short periods of time can be fatal. In many cases, events of severe
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 20

weather and large amounts of flooding have been the driving force behind rapid changes

in salinity ​(​Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Severe weather events such as flooding that are

causing these changes in salinity can also be driven by climate change. For example, the

El Niño weather phenomenon, the disruption of the normal trajectory of the trade

winds, brings severe weather and heavy rains, often leading to flooding (Cho, 2016).

How is this related to climate change? New research shows that the severity of this

weather event is often exacerbated by climate change (Cho, 2016). The cycle of El Niño

and climate change is becoming more detrimental to reefs each year as severe weather

events worsen and flooding increases, thus altering salinity and water temperatures.

Because of climate change and subsequent effects like increases in salinity and

temperature in tropical waters, the health of corals is at risk.

Clearly, there is an abundance of factors negatively impacting the health of coral

reefs, from elevated tropical sea temperatures to overfishing, but there are also

measures being taken to combat these effects. Both independent organizations and

governmental institutions are taking action to lessen the impact of these factors. In

recent years, reef protection has also become a more common political topic in nations

with significant reefs.

In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is of great importance to the Australian

economy, and thus the government has been, in the last several decades, increasingly

concerned with passing legislation to stop its degradation. Especially since research

suggests that by around 2030, coral cover in this reef will have declined to almost

nothing (Azam et al, 2009). In addition to the Australian government’s efforts, the Great
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 21

Barrier Reef is on the World Heritage List. Therefore, the government of Australia is

required to perform certain tasks to protect the reef due to its importance to Australian

natural and cultural heritage (Azam et al, 2009). For example, to further this goal,

Australia passed a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme with the goal of “[reducing]

carbon pollution by 25 per cent of 2000 levels by 2020” (Azam et al, 2009). While the

effectiveness of this and other plans implemented in Australia is arguable, their

implementation shows a valiant effort on behalf of the Australian government to reduce

the negative impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef.

In Southeast Asia, there has been less success with government-led reef

monitoring and conservation programs. Since 1994, 109 Marine Protected Areas have

been declared by ASEAN countries (Chou, 2000). However, many of these are poorly

managed due to a combination of incompetence, conflicting interests in government,

and a lack of logistical resources, among other reasons. On the other hand, while

government-coordinated efforts may not be very effective, it has been shown that,

“Community-based management systems are apparently having more widespread

success and different models have been applied to suit local situations.” (Chou, 2000).

Through direct community involvement, there have been great successes in Southeast

Asia, especially in Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This quote from Loke Ming

Chou gives insight into why these efforts have been successful: “Community-based

management provides users with a better sense of propriety and greater motivation to

manage the very resources that they themselves are dependent on. Such communities
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 22

are effective in controlling destructive activities caused by other users as well as

themselves.”.

In regards to government-specific efforts, community involvement yields more

productive results than strictly government-controlled efforts. While data still suggests

that reef health is on the decline in Southeast Asia, as in most of the rest of the world

(Chou, 2000), the enthusiasm and motivation to help save reefs shown by these

communities is promising. While coral bleaching and reef degradation is a complex,

difficult issue that cannot be easily solved, measures are being taken to ensure the

health of reefs worldwide improves. Continued action by legislators and communities is

the best bet for solving this problem.

Additionally, scientists have been tirelessly working on solutions to this problem

in a multitude of different ways. One way in which scientists are trying to replenish coral

populations is through breeding programs. It was explained above how bleaching and

other fatal events are making it more difficult for corals to breed, so scientists with the

Georgia Aquarium have begun collecting gametes (sperm and eggs) from wild corals and

combining them in a lab. They then release the larvae back into the reefs where they

typically grow into healthy coral (Stone, 2018).

There must be a solid understanding of these problems in order to solve them,

which is why scientists are continuing to research and conduct studies on why these

bleaching events occur and what can be done to lessen their impact. For example, when

the aforementioned scientists collect coral gametes to release, they keep a small amount

of them to grow in their lab and study. This gives the scientists a better idea of what
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 23

types of conditions these corals thrive in and allows them to experiment on them and

find new ways to help wild corals (Stone, 2018). Similarly, in Hawai’i, researchers are

trying to better understand this issue by photographing timelapses of coral bleaching.

They have observed that some corals are adapting to these consistently warmer

temperatures, albeit too slowly to alleviate the problem entirely (Finnerty, 2019). While

this adaptation will not be enough to solve the problems caused by climate change, these

results are somewhat promising.

Overall, the issue of coral bleaching and reef degradation is not an easy problem

to solve, and there is no quick-fix. However, in recent years, there has not only been

more acknowledgement by scientists and politicians alike, but actual action taken to

protect reefs. Climate change and subsequent coral reef degradation is a big problem

that does not show signs of stopping, but with the combination of increasingly

promising advancements made by human scientists and legislators to combat climate

change and the resilience of nature, there may still be hope.

Conclusion

As for the global decline of coral reefs, there is no easy solution in sight. Replenishing

vital coral populations will require efforts from governments, corporations, scientists, and even

individuals. There have been significant efforts in recent years to combat the deaths of corals,

both in legislature and science. Still, more must be done in order to effectively solve this

problem. The main focus should be on lessening the impacts of climate change, as this has been

shown to be the stem of most challenges facing reef health. However, lessening the impact of

climate change is a difficult issue and any action taken will most likely take decades to even

begin making a difference. This is why it is of dire importance that more coral-specific

conservation efforts be employed alongside those targeting overall climate change. Increasing

law enforcement in regards to illegal fishing and coral harvesting practices is of the utmost

importance, along with the continuation and formation of new scientific programs to help corals

breed and thrive. Individuals must also do their part in educating themselves about decisions

they make as citizens and consumers in order to lessen their personal impact on the

environment. New innovations in the field of reef conservation are being made at unprecedented

rates, as well as new legislation and large-scale conservation efforts. These are all important, but

individuals making attempts to live more eco-friendly lives shouldn’t be overlooked as part of

the solution.
Degradation and Decline of Coral Reefs 25

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