Coral Reef Destruction Causes & Solutions

DESTRUCTION OF
CORAL REEFS
ITS CAUSES, EFFECTS AND
SOME SOLUTIONS

© 2012 SHYRA GAIL SUMAGUE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

• underwater structures made from calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) secreted by corals.
• colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that
contain few nutrients.
• grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated
waters.
• “rainforests of the sea”
• form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.

WHAT ARE CORAL REEFS?


THE CORAL REEFS’ SURFACE
• occupy less than 0.1% of the world's ocean
surface.
• estimated to cover 284,300 sq. km
(109,800 sq. mi).
Coral Reefs
Southeast Asia
Indo-Pacific
Region (including
Red Sea, Indian
Pacific (including Ocean, Southeast
Australia) Asia and Pacific)
Rest of the World
Atlantic and
Caribbean


Threat to the Reefs
Overexploitation

By the 2030’s, 90% of reefs are Coastal Development
expected
to be at risk from both human activities and
climate change; by 2050, all coral reefs will
Inland Pollution and
be in danger. Erosion
Marine Pollution

When these threats are combined, 58
percent of the world’s reefs are at risk
(defined as medium and high risk).


WORLD’S TOP 5 LONGEST CORAL REEFS
5) Florida Reef 4) The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef
– Length: 200 miles (322 km) – Length: 585 miles (943 km)
– Location: Atlantic Ocean and – Location: Atlantic Ocean near
Gulf of Mexico near Florida Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and
Honduras


3) New Caledonia 2) Red Sea Coral Reef 1) Great Barrier Reef
Barrier Reef – Length: 1,180 miles – Length: 1,553 miles
– Length: 932 (1,900 km) (2,500 km)
miles (1,500 – Location: Red Sea – Location: Coral Sea
km) near Israel, Egypt and near Australia
– Location: Djibouti
Pacific Ocean
near New
Caledonia


PHILIPPINE CORAL REEFS
“ 5 percent —equivalent to just
• The estimated reef area of the
around 1,000 square kilometers—of
Philippines ranges from
the country’s total reef area remain in
19,000 to 27,000 square
good condition in the face of the
kilometers, depending on the
wanton destruction of our coral reefs
territorial boundaries and
by poachers.”
depth ranges.
-- Dr. Porfirio
Alino, University of the
Philippines Marine
Science Institute (UP-
MSI)


TUBBATAHA REEF
• Philippines’s largest coral reef
• located in the Sulu Sea, 98
nautical miles (181 km) southeast
of Puerto Princesa City in the
Palawan Province.


IMPORTANCE OF THE REEFS


IMPORTANCE
• Sustaining Tropical Marine
Ecosystems
• Primary Producers
• Tourism
• Coastal Protection
• Fisheries
• Medicinal Research
• Cultural Significance


CORAL REEF’S DESTRUCTION

Solutions

Effects

Causes


THE DESTRUCTION OF THE REEF


OZONE DEPLETION
• although corals have a natural • coral reefs are highly sensitive to
sunscreen to protect themselves increase in temperature and then
from the tropical sun, most cause coral bleaching.
scientists believe that increased – coral polyps, stressed by
levels of ultraviolet radiation heat, push out the algae that live
damage coral in shallow areas. in them. These algae, called
“zooxanthellae,” normally provide
the coral with up to 80% of its
L
E energy. It is also responsible for
A the color of coral, so when they
D are expelled, the coral appears
S white or "bleached."

T
O OCEAN WARMING

HIGH AMOUNT OF DISSOLVED
CARBON DIOXIDE IN WATER
• dissolves skeleton of corals.
–  CO2 = weak formation of
skeletons

WATER POLLUTION
• one of the leading causes of coral
reef destruction.
•  wastes =  nitrogen =  algae
= ✖ sunlight


SEDIMENTATION
• mining, logging and/or farming causes soil
erosion. These soil particles go into the
bodies of water and block the sunlight that
coral reefs need to survive.


DESTRUCTIVE FISHING PRACTICES

• Muro-ami Fishing
– banging on the reefs with sticks destroy coral reef formation.

• Blast Fishing
– bombing the ocean water to stun the fishes for an easy catch which
causes damage to coral reefs.

• Cyanide Fishing
– fishermen dive down the ocean and stun the fish using cyanide.


CORAL MINING CARELESS TOURISM
• when people mine for corals, they are • wastes kept in poorly maintained
removed from each other to be used septic tanks can have leaks into
as: surrounding ground water, seeping out
to the reefs. Whenever people
grab, kick, walk on, on the reefs, they
contribute to coral reef destruction.
Corals are harmed or even killed
when people drop anchors on them.
Careless boating, diving, snorkeling
and fishing can also damage coral
reefs.


EFFECTS OF DESTRUCTION


END OF HABITATS
Coral reefs cover only about 1% of the ocean floor, yet are home to about 25%
of all marine life- approximately 35,000 to 60,000 different types of organisms.


DEMISE OF ECONOMY
Many humans are dependent on
coral reefs for their livelihood.


LOSS OF NATURAL COASTAL PROTECTION
They are a natural barrier of protection against
currents, strong waves, and storms. Without the
reefs to slow the water before it reaches the
shore, these areas are very vulnerable.


KILLING THE HOPE FOR CURE
Coral reefs are probable sources of medicines to cure the diseases
that currently plague the earth. Chemicals found in the reefs have
been used to treat ulcers, heart disease, leukemia, and more. Every
time a reef is destroyed, the chance of relieving the pain and
suffering of people all over the world is reduced.


SAVING THE CORAL REEFS


PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT’S SOLUTION
• Banning of Cyanide fishing
• Banning of Blast fishing
• Banning of collecting and exporting corals


REPUBLIC ACT 8550
(THE PHILIPPINES’ FISHERY CODE OF 1998)
• gathering
• harvesting of ordinary corals
• collecting either in raw or
• transporting processed form in
• possession any quantity, is
• sale prohibited
• exporting
• use of corals as: Section 5
– materials in: – Ordinary Coral
• buildings
• other man-made structures


Tubbataha Reef, El Nido, Palawan, PH

Section 6 • the Minister of Natural Resources may issue a
– Gratuitous Permit gratuitous permit to duly established and
recognized research and educational institutions
to gather in limited quantities any coral for
scientific or educational purposes only.

Section 7 • the Minister of Natural Resources may issue a
– Special Permit special permit to only one person/corporation for
a limited period to conduct experimental
collection of precious and semi-precious corals.


REPUBLIC ACT 8550
(THE PHILIPPINES FISHERY CODE OF 1998)
• An Act Providing for the Development, Management, and
Conservation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Integrating all
Laws pertinent thereto, and for other purposes.
– Section 67.1
• the safety and quality standards on aquatic organisms and fishery products for
domestic consumption and international trade, consistent with international
trade agreements.


OTHER SOLUTIONS
• Build artificial reefs to replace the reefs that have been destroyed.
• Convince the people not to buy fish that have been caught by destroying
coral reefs.
• Encourage governments to crack down on pollution, both into the ocean
and into the air, which causes global warming.
• Encourage visitors to coral reefs to be careful not to harm them.
• Isolate the coral reefs so they can heal themselves.
• Study about coral reefs.
• Convince government to treat them with care.


SAVE THE EARTH’S PRECIOUS
RESOURCES

Reduce
• Reduce waste by using less

• Reuse containers and products
Recycle Reuse
• Recycle old products to make new ones


CHE99/ B23 GIRON, AXLE
SUMAGUE, SHYRA GAIL CORDON, TOM
ROSARIO, RAMIL

MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – INTRAMUROS.
gailshyra.tumblr.com | @gailshyra (twitter) | gailshyra@yahoo.com

Coral Reef Destruction Causes & Solutions

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