Coral Reef Degradation

Corals Reefs Coral Coral Reefs Made up of limestone skeletons of tiny marine organisms called coral polyps. Coral Reefs Hard rocky ridge build up from the sea bed by many tiny coral animals. They are sometimes called the rainforest of the ocean. They are the home to a great number and variety of fish and other living organisms.

Coral Reef Degradation The worlds coral reefs are shrinking rapidly. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network estimated that by the end of the year 2000, 27% of the worlds coral reefs had been permanently damaged due to natural and human factors.

Causes of Coral Reef Degradation There are two main causes to Coral Reef Degradation: Natural Causes Human Activities Natural Causes include Hurricanes Climate change Natural predators

Human Activities include Over Fishing and other damaging fishing methods Sedimentation Pollution Coastal development Tourism

Consequences of Coral Reef Degradation Coastal Erosion Decline in fish stock Loss of potential sources of medicine Loss of natural heritage Source of employment Loss of tourist attractions

Additional Notes Types of reefs Fringing reefs – a narrow coral platform separated from the coast by a shallow lagoon which may disappear at low tide. Eg. Buccoo Reef, Tobago Barrier Reefs – a coral platform separated from the coast by a deep lagoon (much larger than a fringing reef). It lies in deeper water, much further out at sea. Eg. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia (world’s best example) and in the Caribbean there is a barrier reef on the coast of Belize. Atoll Reefs – a circular coral reef which encloses a lagoon (or an area of deep water) Eg. Near the coast (near barrier reef) in Belize