Threats to Coral Reefs Coral reefs are one of the most fragile ecosystems in the entire world and the most beautiful. It is also home to 25% of all the world's marine life. But it is rapidly disappearing. Humans have

destroyed 35 million acres of reefs. Coral reefs of 93 countries have been damaged in some way. If this pattern continues, 70% of the world's reefs will be gone in our lifetime.

Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have gone to the sea to fish. There are hundreds of species of fish in the coral reefs, and most are edible to humans. But, in recent years, people have been over tapping this resource.

A particular threat to the reef is too much fishing. People are demanding coral reef fish for food and for their aquariums. As fish become more in demand, fishermen try to find ways to catch more fish. They resort to dynamite, poison, and other tactics. They even use dynamite to get coral to sell for souvenirs or to use in construction. The dynamite kills all the fish in the surrounding areas and reduces the coral to broken lifeless structures.

Poison, such as cyanide, is also used. The poison stuns all the fish in the surrounding area and the fishermen gather the valuable fish, leaving other fish floating on top of the ocean or lying on the bottom. The valuable fish are sold to people to put in aquariums or in live-fish restaurants. The poison also kills the coral and then the whole reef dies. In the Philippines up to 400,000 pounds of cyanide are used in the reefs each year. As a result, only 10% of the reefs in the area are healthy.

Water pollution in the coral reefs can kill every living organisms that lives there. Oil spills, gas leaks, and trash dumping are all big threats. Many sea turtles have died because they mistake plastic bags for jelly fish, their natural food. If the animal doesn't choke on the bag, it will travel to its stomach where it will stay. The bag gives the fish or turtle the sensation of being full and they will not eat. Eventually they will starve to death. Discarded nets are also a danger to all coral reef inhabitants. Fish, dolphins, and turtles get entangled in the nets and can not escape. It's especially a danger for sharks, since most species cannot survive unless they are constantly moving; when they become entangled in the nets, they quickly suffocate. Trash and oil also coat the surface of the water not allowing sunlight to break through and stopping the photosynthesis process from occurring. One of the most noticeable occurrences in unhealthy reefs are "bleached" reefs. This is caused by global warming. In recent years, water temperatures in the world's oceans have risen. The higher temperature causes the algae in the polyps of coral to disappear and the coral turns white or looks "bleached."

Simple things, like recreational activities, can hurt a reef also. Careless boaters, divers, and bathers cause damage to reefs. Boaters drop anchors onto the reefs crushing the fragile coral and the habitat of fish. Divers and bathers kick, walk, and break the coral. Tourist will often break off parts of the coral as souvenirs. And when you think of all the people who go to the beach every year the coral is taking a lot of needless punishment.

The damage to the reefs does not just occur off shore, it happens on shore also. Deforestation causes massive runoff into the ocean and crystal clear water becomes a muddy mess. Natural sediment barriers are being destroyed to make sandy beaches for tourists. Natural barriers like mangrove trees are being chopped down for firewood and prawn farms. The mangroves act as natural filters and keep the reefs clean from erosion and runoff. Without them the surface of the ocean becomes cloudy - so cloudy that photosynthesis cannot occur and the coral quickly die.

Human runoff is also damaging. Fertilizers and sewage dumped in coastal waters causes abnormal algae growth. This algae clogs the coral so they suffocate and, because the reefs are also being over fished, the natural algae eaters are not there to counteract the problem.

Humans are the most destructive creatures on earth, but we also have the ability to learn and to clean up our messes. Maybe it is time that we learn from our mistakes and start cleaning up.