By OceanGrafixBlog.wordpress.com
World Reef Day was June 1. Help rehab coral reefs year-round.
Warmer seas due to climate change have destroyed half the coral in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef since 1995. The problem is broader: scientists estimate that we’ve lost half of all coral reefs worldwide since 1980 and we could lose the rest by 2050.
Hot sea water “bleaches” or kills the organisms that feed the coral, which then turns white. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the cause of rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is from burning fossil fuels.
Coral reefs are so sensitive to water temperature change that a one-degree Centigrade change, which has occurred to date, is enough to kill the reefs. Scientists say without changes in human behavior, the world is headed towards a three-degree Centigrade warming, or another two-degree Centigrade increase.
Warming water isn’t the only problem. Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning. Over time, sea water becomes acidic, destroying coral that is made largely of calcium carbonate.
Why we depend on coral reefs
Why should we be concerned about the loss of coral reefs? After all, they only cover less than 1% of the ocean floor. The answer is that reefs:
- support 25% of all marine species
- prevent coastal erosion
- protect oceanside development from storm surge
- support a $30 billion industry of seafood and tourism
Each of us can make a difference
June 1 (every year) is World Reef Awareness Day. Scientists remind us that there is much we can do to bring back healthy coral reefs. Beyond reducing the use of fossil fuels, we can:
- Wear non-nano zinc oxide sunscreens when diving in reefs. These sunscreens enter the cells of invertebrates and fish, causing cell damage.
- Reduce single-use plastic, which makes it to landfills and then into the oceans, choking the reefs.
- Actively support reef health and be a spokesperson on your social media. The World Reef Day toolkit will get you started.
Tour the Great Barrier Reef
Want to take a closer look at the world’s largest reef? At OceanGrafix, we have an NGA chart of the Great Barrier Reef on the eastern shore of Queensland, just south of Papua New Guinea.
Here are a few more resources:
- A National Geographic video, showing the beauty of the reef and sea life
- Tips on visiting the reef from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation
- Since the reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the organization has a trove of information on the reef
- Tourism Australia will help you plan a visit, from securing lodging to booking a cruise or seaplane excursion
Anyone who has seen the colorful coral of reefs and the sea creatures who call the reef home understands the fragility of the world’s coral reefs. Help celebrate World Reef Day every day.
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