Recent government studies have shown that coral reefs and marine fish are in great danger. Researchers have determined that within fifty years coral reefs existence will be cut in half. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and biologically productive ecosystems on earth. They are unique among marine communities. In addition to being spectacular displays of nature’s creativity, coral reefs are reservoirs of biological diversity and are truly the “tropical rain forests of the sea”. These displays and marine lives are being destroyed each day primarily due to lack of respect for the ocean life. Everyone must work together to stop the pollution and destruction of our coral reefs and the environment around it.

Corals are animals, not plants and have very specific requirements for light, temperature, water clarity, salinity and oxygen. Housed in this magnificent underworld are the marine fishes, invertebrates, sea turtles and crustaceans. Both the corals and fishes are important to one another. In some instances the fish will feed coral that it thrives in, such as an anemone fish. When either of these lives is hurt they both suffer.

There are many benefits to keeping mari

Ocean life is also used in the science of medicine, and many new discoveries are being made as research continues. Such as in Japan’s reef there is a chemical called kainac acid, which is used as a diagnostic chemical used to investigate Huntington’s chorea, a rare but fatal disease of the nervous system (Aldridge 102). Japan’s coast is one of the most studied coral coasts in the world. Doctors are now using shark cartilage to aid in the relief of arthritic pain and to help regrow the bone that has already been lost. And the porous limestone skeletons of coral are now being tested as bone grafts in humans (Aldridge 73). Also, chemicals that the corals produce naturally are now being used and sold in the United States as a natural sunscreen.

Construction along the coast, inshore construction, mining or farming upstream, or logging in tropical forests causes soil to erode and rush downstream into the ocean and onto coral reefs. This dirt, silt, or sand can make the water cloudy or muddy, smothering the coral which can’t get enough light to survive. Mangrove trees and sea grasses which normally act as filters for residue are also being destroyed. This has led to an increase in the amount of sediment that reaches coral reefs. Mangrove forests are often cut for firewood or removed to create open beaches. Prawn harvesters, who are people that hunt for edible crustaceans, will also clear tropical forests in order to create artificial prawn farms.

In order to control the water pollutants the government could monitor the barges and boat transports closely. Water testing can be done to ensure the quality is up levels that corals can thrive in. Have written standards for the boats that are carrying these toxic chemicals to make sure they are sealed and being correctly carried.

There are many things that can be done to save the ocean life. There are over sixty-five countries that have designated some 300 parks that include coral reefs as natural habitats in the world. The problem is that less that 30% of the designated areas are fully protected. These type of protection plans are going on world wide, and are having great success. If we can only protect the reefs more closely and more of them they would be in better shape. If we can monitor the amount of runoff that is being put back into the ocean we could decrease the mortality rate. The government could step in and have some control of the legal amounts and enforce these new laws. Even now, attempts such as this are in progress with success.

In the ocean there is a cycle that goes on that is vital in the existence of the worlds reefs. If this cycle is broke, corals can become weak and more susceptible to storm damage and disease. Coral reefs are formed by a buildup of calcium carbonate produced by the corals and other calcium-secreting organisms. If calcium production declines, coral and algal skeletons will weaken and reef building may slow or stop. The reef then becomes more vulnerable to erosion. Most importantly, once these reefs erode, without adequate calcium production capabilities they may have no way of rebuilding themselves. Ongoing calcium production depends on the saturation state of calcium carbonate in surrounding surface waters. This saturation state declines as the CO2 enters tropical surface waters. Burning coal, gas and other fossil fuels causes carbon dioxide, and it threatens the existence of the reefs. As CO2 dissolves, it produces an acid that lowers the seawater pH. The interaction of!

With all the benefits the reefs carry, there are also many problems that go along with them. Tourists have a enormous impact on the destruction of the reefs. Tourists include enthusiast, fisherman, devoted divers

Some topics in this essay:
Islands Weber, Barrier Reef, Mozambique African, Pacific Islanders, Efforts Recent, Parks Abide, Wildlife Service, Ecological Reserve, United United, coral reefs, Press C4, calcium carbonate, marine life, ocean life, global warming, marine fish, corals fish, coral reef, fish caught, calcium production, reefs marine fish, destruction coral reefs, marine fish danger,