Unfortunately, the last century or so has seen human activities pose an increased threat to the marine environment, including coral reefs, which are among the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Tourism, fishing, industrial pollution, coral mining, and shipping are among the activities that cause the greatest harm to our reefs, putting the animals that live there – as well as the rest of the earth’s web of life – at risk. Here, we take a serious look at how humans are adversely affecting coral reefs, plus we discuss some methods for reducing our impact and in turn, helping reefs to heal.
Destructive Fishing Methods
You might be shocked to learn that in some places, it’s common for people to drop bombs into the water to stun or kill fish, causing them to float to the surface for easy collection. And you might be surprised to learn that in some places, people use poison including cyanide and other chemicals to kill fish and bring them to the surface, causing harm to the marine environment along the way. Both of these indiscriminate fishing practices are harmful. They have an adverse impact not just on marine life and the environment; they also harm the people who live nearby – in fact, they can harm the very people who are doing the fishing.
There are a number of solutions to the destructive fishing problem. First, fishermen need to be educated about the damage they are causing. Once educated, these people are often more than willing to utilize more sustainable fishing methods.
Second, governments, particularly those in developing nations, need to understand how destructive fishing practices are harming their citizens, their environments, and their economies. Once governments are educated, legislation prohibiting these practices can be enacted.
Third, it is vital to teach people that there are other ways to make money. Having the ability to generate income in other ways greatly reduces the likelihood that these people will continue to resort to harmful fishing practices.
Tourism
Even though most snorkelers, divers, and adventurers mean no harm, they cause a huge amount of damage to coral reefs. Snorkelers, divers, and beachgoers often walk on reef tops, and careless underwater explorers bump into reefs and snap off bits of coral as souvenirs. Even the slightest touch can cause damage, and when people are visiting the same area day after day, the problems are magnified.
There are several solutions to this problem. First, tourism activities should be carefully managed. People need to be given specific guidelines to follow regarding where to walk and where to dive; in addition, visitors should be kept away from the most vulnerable areas.
Second, dive operators should pay close attention to newer divers, ensuring that they are following instructions and using appropriate buoyancy control techniques. Shore divers must be provided with specific instructions concerning entering and exiting the water.
Governments can institute marine protected areas to protect sensitive coral reef environments, plus they can regulate the number of visitors who come to each site daily. As part of plans like these, monitoring must be highlighted, with fines being enforced when tourists fail to obey regulations.
Shipping
Boats and ships threaten the marine environment in a few ways; they discharge sewage and other pollutants, plus they occasionally collide with reefs. Many smaller vessels anchor indiscriminately, causing severe damage to reefs.
All boaters and ship operators must be made aware of the problems associated with anchoring. Anchor chains and lines must be of the appropriate type, and violators must be fined.
Ships and other boats should only anchor in areas located away from reefs, when possible. Mooring buoys are often available in areas where no sandy anchoring locations are present; whenever possible, vessels should anchor to mooring buoys.
No-anchor zones must be set up in order to protect fragile coral reef environments
Penalties must be established for discharging waste in ocean waters, and fines must be levied to ensure boaters follow regulations.
Coral Mining
Coral mining, or the extraction of corals for decoration, use in vitamins and other nutritional supplements, use in formulating building materials, and use in creating household furniture is a huge threat to the marine environment. This practice degrades reefs by undermining their supportive structures, which leads to collapse and to silting on nearby reefs. Coral reef mining has an adverse impact on other organisms that rely on reefs for habitat; in some cases, it has led to coral atoll collapse.
The ultimate solution would be to put a complete stop to coral mining. Education is key here; when people understand the problem and recognize that it is having an adverse effect on marine environments, they are quite likely to look for other solutions. Individuals taking calcium supplements should be made aware of the coral mining problem so that they can select environmentally sustainable brands rather than those containing coral.
Industrial Pollution
Industrial pollutants kill corals and other marine animals, both at the time of their release and during the months and years that follow. Pollutants such as petroleum products, heavy metals, fertilizers and pesticides, and heated wastewater harm the marine environment, remaining in sediments for years in some cases, and becoming concentrated in the tissues of reef dwellers.
There are several ways to reduce the impact industrial pollution has on coral reef environments. First, educating people about the need to reduce chemical use is vital – everything we pour onto our lawns and down our drains eventually ends up in the ocean.
Second, waste should be properly treated and disposed of, water quality standards should be set into place and water quality should be monitored, and regulatory programs should be instituted. All these actions can reduce the amount and toxicity of industrial pollutants, and can help reduce the impact they have on coral reef environments.
By putting a stop to these harmful practices, we aren’t just working to save coral reefs, we are working to protect the entire planet and all the life that thrives here. It is not too late to make a difference. Now is the right time for everyone to take action.