Indo-Pacific Reefs (Indonesia) Philippines Middle East/Red Sea & Persian Gulf Caribbean Pacific
Indonesia comprises of more than 17 000 island and most of the waters around these island are conducive for coral growth, supporting a great variety of life. However, now, few of the reefs can be considered to be in good shape, due to various factors, most of which can be traced back to human influences.
One major causes of the deterioration of Indonesian reefs is the use of cyanide and explosives in fishing. Many people in Indonesia depend on reefs for their livelihood, sometimes they are forced to resort to using cyanide or explosives as an easier method to catch fish. Coral rock and sand around Jakarta and Banda also contribute to their deterioration.
The destruction of another import habitat, the rainforest, is also contributing to the decline of coral reefs. The rich tropical rainforest of Sumatra, Java and Irian Jaya are being cut down at an alarming rate, contributing to the destruction of many plant and animal species. On top of this, it also results in the silting of rivers due to erosion of the topsoil because of lack of protection once provided by the trees. The silt in the rivers would eventually find its way into the sea, clouding the water and blocking out sunlight, thus having adverse effects on the coral whose Zooxanthellae depend on photosynthesis. Without adequate sunlight the corals eventually die.
The government has been taking steps to stop reefs exploitation by laying down laws on dynamite and cyanide fishing, as well as setting up reserves.
The reefs of Philippines are one of the most diverse in the world, and are popular diving spots. However, it is estimated that 30% of Philippine's reefs are dead, and another 39% dying.
Like most other countries in SouthEast Asia, Philippines reefs face threat from over fishing, especially through the use of cyanide or blast fishing. More and more people are migrating to reef areas because of lack of proper farmland, contributing to the over-fishing and eventual death of these reefs. Despite regulations imposed by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), Philippines is still a major exporter of live corals and fish for the aquarium industry. Sedimentation due to deforestation is also a major factor as large areas of forest and mangrove are felled.
Reefs in these areas are generally in good shape, even though they lie along major oil shipping routes. These areas are surrounded by deserts, thereby limiting human influence on them. However, recently, the amount of tourists to these areas has increased, especially along the Red Sea regions. Most of the tourists are German and Italian, coming to these areas primarily for diving. Presently, the level of tourists is relatively controllable, and the reefs are still out of danger, however, the number of tourists to these areas is expected to increase drastically, it is likely that the coral reefs will be affected one way or another. Effort must be taken by the respective governments to unsure that the coral reefs will be a sustainable resource. This will benefit both the country and the reefs.
Some of the most renowned diving sites are found in this region, especially in Belize, where the best reefs in the western Atlantic are found. However even in such areas over-fishing and pollution still pose threats.
The pacific islands include Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia and other relatively isolated island most of which are merely specks on a map. Not surprisingly, they some of the healthiest reefs in the world, owing to their relative isolation from heavy human impact. However, no reef is totally free from human impact. As the population in these regions increase, it is likely that the reefs will be in decline. Blast fishing in some areas is already on the increase.