A Description of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are colonies of polyps, which are tiny separate corals. Polyps are permanently staying in one place, and their exoskeletons are exceptionally hard because they are made of calcium carbonate (Camp et al. 27). Coral reefs tend to grow slowly, creating reefs of unique shapes and sizes, depending on the species. The majority of coral reefs are three-dimensional due to assistance from other species with similar skeletons. Every ocean on Planet Earth contains corals, but explicit coral reefs are only built in the tropics, where waters are generally warm and shallow. The most biologically diverse reefs can be found in Southeast Asia, while the biggest reef system in the world can be located in Australia.
The Core Functions of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs serve numerous functions that play an important role in the environment as well. For example, there are findings suggesting that the damages imposed by tropical storms and large waves could be prevented by coral reefs (Bush 35). Many marine organisms significantly benefit from residing near coral reefs, as they gain access to an adequate habitat and plenty of valuable nutrients. Thus, coral reefs contribute to the process of marine food chains being kept intact naturally. Moreover, nutrient recycling becomes possible with the aid of coral reefs. The most popular function of coral reefs is tourism because it brings lots of money to local companies and also enhances fishery.
The Importance of Coral Reefs
The first particular element that hints at the importance of coral reefs is their involvement in marine nutrition. In other words, coral reefs support local fisheries, as the latter depends on the reef based on the habitat and organisms spawning repeatedly. Another crucial factor that has to be considered is water filtration. With the aid of sponges and corals, local waters become clearer and the overall quality of the marine environment increases (Lovrich and Thiel 314). The ultimate reason to consider coral reefs important is their contribution to the economic sustainability of the region. Many tourists seek diving courses to see the reefs, which brings new money to the region and supports local service providers.
Threats to the Caribbean Coral Reefs
The primary threat that cannot be ignored when discussing the Caribbean coral reefs is the growing pace of coastal development. With a significant portion of reefs being affected by urban runoff, the future does not look bright for the reefs. Another particular threat is the growing rate of pollution that modifies the local lands and generates more room for sediment. Most importantly, the Caribbean coral reefs are endangered because of the numerous cruise ships and tankers passing nearby (Tanaka 349). The damage given to coral reefs by anchors and oil leaks can be deemed destructive and irreversible.
Problem #1: Coral Disease
The Caribbean coral reefs currently suffer from the spread of a coral disease named the Stony Coral Tissue Loss that is quickly becoming a larger threat. The lack of instant responses to the issue caused the partial or complete destruction of a number of coral reefs in the Caribbean sea (Martindale et al., 2008). There are no relevant reactions to the danger at the moment, meaning that the longest-lived and the slowest-growing reefs are likely to be destroyed in the near future. The cause of the disease was not identified yet, meaning that additional research will have to be completed to contribute to protective measures related to the Caribbean coral reefs.
Solution for Problem #1: Building Resilience
With the information that was acquired regarding the Caribbean coral reefs and the spread of coral disease, it can be recommended to impose limitations on tourism and fisheries. Experts in coral reefs would obtain additional time to examine the possible causes of the spread of the disease. For instance, better management of wastewater and diving equipment disinfection could help prevent additional pollution (Martindale et al. 2016). On the other hand, inter-agency collaboration should be suggested in order to improve local site treatment and preventive action planning. Thus, resilience would be built through the interface of the best practices available that are going to be compliant with relevant regulations.
Problem #2: Overfishing
The second issue that has to be covered when discussing the biggest threat to the Caribbean coral reefs is overfishing. Due to its unsustainable nature, overfishing could quickly deplete the key species in the key coral reef areas. The ripple effect from such changes would transform the local reef ecosystem and damage the marine environment (Salas et al. 32). On the other hand, the local economy will be expected to face challenges related to reduced income due to the high grade of reliance on the Caribbean coral reefs. As an important marine habitat, coral reefs will not be able to respond to the existing rate of human population growth. It is going to result in overfishing and unsustainable use of resources.
Solution for Problem #2: Regulating Fishery
The ultimate solution to help prevent the fishery from destroying the existing Caribbean coral reefs would be to authorize fishing on certain reefs only, with a contingency plan to protect the marine environment. This proposal means that specific fishing behaviors could be premeditated – for example, reduced targeted fishing of parrotfish could help prevent any serious harm to coral reefs (Harms-Tuohy 29). The need to generate conservation groups is another essential element of the solution, as overfishing will be the most likely to degrade the reef habitat. With a detailed fishery management plan, more individuals and organizations would start paying additional attention to the issues that threaten the Caribbean coral reefs.
Works Cited
Bush, Martin J. Climate Change Adaptation in Small Island Developing States. John Wiley & Sons, 2018.
Camp, Emma F., et al. The Future of Coral Reefs Subject to Rapid Climate Change: Lessons from Natural Extreme Environments. Frontiers, 2019.
Harms-Tuohy, C. A. Parrotfishes in the Caribbean: A Regional Review with Recommendations for Management. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2021.
Lovrich, Gustavo, and Martin Thiel. Fisheries and Aquaculture: Volume 9. Oxford University Press, USA, 2020.
Martindale, Rowan C., et al. Gulf of Mexico Reefs: Past, Present and Future. Frontiers, 2021.
Salas, Silvia, et al. Viability and Sustainability of Small-Scale Fisheries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Springer, 2018.
Tanaka, Yoshifumi. The International Law of the Sea. Cambridge University Press, 2019.