Coral reefs constitute one of the most threatened of marine habitats. Due to their slow growth and relatively long life expectancy, they cannot easily regenerate themselves, and their plight is made even more difficult by the fact that they are permanently cemented to the sea floor. Hence, increasing pollution and sporadic invasion by predators prove particularly devastating.
Through our indiscriminate plunder of marine resources, shallow and surface water fish stocks have been greatly reduced - many to virtual extinction. This has resulted in commercial fisheries turning their attention to deep water species in increasing numbers. One effect on coral reefs is entanglement in fishnets during deep-sea trawls.
Thus a coral colony which, together with its associated flora and fauna, may have developed over 300 or 400 years, can be wiped out in a matter of minutes.
Since coral growth varies from five to 200 centimeters a year, depending on temperature, water clarity, and food supply, it has been esitmated that some older reefs may have taken from 10,000 to 30,000 years to reach their present size.
Further hazards, in the form of pollutants, refuse, sewage, oil, or other toxic substances, released intentionally or through shipwreck, have compounded the problem. Even the methods used in attempting to rectify these catastrophes have sometimes magnified the damage.
Concern for the safety of coral reefs is rising, however, and this concern has resulted in international cooperation to develop codes of conduct for maritime vessels. It has also led to the coordination of research on the effects of man's activities on coral reefs and coastal environments, and to the creation of protected marine areas. These areas, such as the artificial reef created by the EAGLE, can act as replenishment reservoirs for fisheries and are designed to include maximum ecosystem diversity.
Last Updated:14 November
1996
URL:http:/www.indiana.edu/~r317doc/trail/reeffut.html
Comments:Underwater
Science Program
Copyright1996, the
Trustees of Indiana University