Coral reefs in the United States are in good condition, according to the current reef condition report, but are vulnerable to decline. Scientists estimate that about 2% of the original coral remains off the coast of Florida, where the decline is most severe.
In a report released last week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences, U.S. Evaluation of Atlantic and Pacific coastal rocks from Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to Guam, Hawaii and American Samoa. It is the first of its kind to do so using standardized monitoring data on a national scale. Analyzing records from 2012 to 2018, researchers identified sea temperatures and acidification, coral disease and fishing as ongoing threats to coral reefs, indicating a “terrible outlook” for these ecosystems.
Sign up for the Guardians Green Light newsletter
The coral reef is considered to be the most biologically diverse ecosystem in the ocean, helping to support more than 25% of marine life. They also provide coastal protection against hurricanes and tropical storms, and economic benefits through commercial fishing, tourism and recreation.
Unlike in previous years, when experts attributed marine pollution to the view of rising coral reefs, Noah researchers now name climate change as the primary cause of reef degradation.
“It used to be mostly water quality … but now it’s pretty well accepted that it’s primarily climate change,” says Jennifer Kos, director of Noah’s Coral Reef Conservation Program.
The two threats of temperature-related bleaching and rising sea acidification are both caused by climate change, as coral reef ecosystems can be destroyed due to their location or proximity to human populations. And along the Florida coast, the added stress of water pollution, new growth, excessive fishing and disease outbreaks means that the remaining coral cover is also inadequate and unhealthy.
“There are a lot of corals left that we know as more weed species,” says Erin M મ્યુller, a coral health and disease specialist at the largest marine laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. “They are resistant to a lot of threats, but they are not major reef-building species and they are not species that are important for a high level of biodiversity … they operate on a much different scale than they are. Be
The potential effects are not just environmental. Mલરller says Florida’s rocks are estimated to cost the state’s economy at least 8 8 billion, supporting more than 70,000 local jobs; A recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that coral reefs supply about $ 600 million to the peninsula and more than 75 million m to the Florida Keys each year.
In response to the threat of a potential future decline, scientists are working to raise awareness and restore coral growth. Recent attempts to relocate the coral reef have been used in response to severe damage such as ship strikes or storms – now, researchers are using the same knowledge to help counteract the impact on the rock population due to climate change.
“If for some reason there is a forest clearing,” says Kos, by which the tree is cut down or removed, or damaged by fire or storm, no one thinks twice to sit back and change what was there. . We are really taking a similar approach. ”
National solutions may also be on the way. The Restoring Resilient Reefs Act, introduced by legislators last year, will establish a federal taskforce on coral protection and a set of national strategies for reef management and restoration. It has been co-sponsored by legislators in Hawaii and Florida, where rocks are a crucial part of the state’s ecology and economy.
“We are at a critical juncture, [but] Cause says, no ball can be turned. “We’re not as naive as to think that we could get all the rocks where they were pre-industrial industrial development … We’ve been doing everything to buy coral for some time, so they can accommodate and adapt to their new conditions.”
Long-term scientific responses need to include not only local rehabilitation efforts, but also address the global impact of the climate crisis on water quality and dependent ecosystems, M તેનાller says.
He stressed the need to be proactive about saving marine life rather than just reacting to every new blow made by the weather crisis. “We will not be able to make these ecosystems climate-proof forever.”
.
