The underwater cities are dying!

    I’ve been watching a couple ted talks there and then since the last blog post, and really have gotten intrigued by the oceans and their complex and beautiful fish homes, Corals. Coral Reefs are underwater colonies that hold entire ecosystems in their groups, without them, many fish species and areas of the ocean would die. 

Around the world, Coral Reefs have been slowly dying for multiple reasons. The increase in the temperature of the ocean, pollution, waste, and plastic. All of these factors have affected large areas of coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef in 2017. These bleaching events can kill up to 90% of entire colonies. (Coral Bleaching). 

                                                                (Scott Reef)

When corals bleach, they start to release their colors, where the bleaching names come from. Ocean temperatures have to stabilize once again so that these corals can thrive again. Because without them, our shorelines would be getting hit harder by stronger waves and storms. Coral Reefs also harbor millions of different aquatic species that would die. Coral reefs provide more than 3.4 billion dollars into the economy each year. (Pai). The reason why they are worth so much is because they harbor one-fourth of all fish in the world. These fish are then sold by fishers providing thousands of jobs. Coral reefs are also used to produce medicine. (Pai). Reefs around the world also gather large crowds that lead to large tourism revenue. (Pai). 

                                        (Greg Lecoeur)

Kristen Marhaver on Ted Talk talks about the hope for Corals in the future. She gives an example of Coral’s in the Caribbeans after a bleaching event. Give time and provide the right environment, the Reefs will heal themself back into great health. Corals only need one reef cell to regrow fully into a full Coral according to Marhaver. If in the proper conditions, Coral’s can thrive for up to 1000 years!

We must limit our carbon emissions individually and corporately to save these cities of fish. Limiting personal plastic is also very important. If you would like to read the last blog that talked about what you can do to help with pollution and apply some of the recommendations said into your daily life, this could help these Coral Reef's thrive, as they are an extremely important part of the ocean's ecosystem and economy.  

Bibliography

Lecoeur, Greg. “Scientists are trying to save coral reefs. Here's what's working.” National Geographic, 5 6 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/2020/06/scientists-are-trying-to-save-coral-reefs-heres-whats-working. Accessed 18 12 2020.

Marhaver, Kristen. “Why I still have hope for coral reefs.” Ted Talk, 2017, https://www.ted.com/talks/kristen_marhaver_why_i_still_have_hope_for_coral_reefs/up-next. Accessed 18 12 2020.

Pai, Michael. “The Coral Reef Economy.” National Ocean Service, NOAA, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/oct17/coral-economy.html#:~:text=Coral%20reefs%20support%20jobs%2C%20tourism%2C%20and%20fisheries.&text=In%20fact%2C%20each%20year%20coral,coral%20reef%20ecosystems%20are%20threatened. Accessed 18 12 2020.

Reef, Scott. “Coral bleaching events.” Australian Government, 4 2016, https://www.aims.gov.au/docs/research/climate-change/coral-bleaching/bleaching-events.html. Accessed 18 12 2020.