Why do you need to protect the ocean's coral reefs?

Answer 1

We as people should protect coral reefs because, as in my text book, if we don't have coral reefs, it would change the movement of the ocean. If we got rid of all coral reefs, it would kill thousands of millions of coral polyps. It would also kill fish since it is a home to more species of fish than any enviorment on Earth. Along with fish, it would kill hundreds of species including sponges, worms, shrimp, crabs, sea turtles, sea snakes, sharks and many others.

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Coral reefs need to be protected because they offer nutrients and housing for fish, crustaceans, sponges, worms, etc. They also offer small marine life protection from predators. Coral is not easily grown- coral takes thousands of years to form completely, and humans and pollutants are incredibly dangerous to coral. Fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, deplete nutrients from coral and kills hundreds of thousands of marine creatures due to the high levels of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Pollutants aren't the only thing that kill coral reefs- seaweed, algae, slight changes in temperature, and drops in ocean salinity all are dangerous and even deadly to coral reefs. Humans destroy coral reefs by taking corals, mooring, fishing, diving, mining, and construction. Chemicals we use everyday also contaminate reefs; cleansers, pesticides, etc. are all dangerous to coral reefs, as well as all other marine animals.

Corals provide many benefits to humans and other marine creatures; their protection is a high priority in many countries- laws have been put in place to help protect coral reefs.

-Local economies near major coral reefs benefit from the abundance of fish and other marine life as a source of food ans trade;

-Reefs provide recreational Scuba diving and snorkeling tourism;

-Unfortunately, diving and snorkeling have been connected to accidental destruction of coral reefs;

-Coral reefs help protect against hurricanes and other forms of extreme weather;

-Reefs provide medical benefits- some chemicals found in corals are used in medicines working to fight cancer, AIDS, pain, etc.;

-Coral can be used in jewelry because of its vibrant colors; however, due to over-harvesting, some corals that are in demand, such as red coral, have become rare because jewelers seek out perfect specimens;

-Corals are a valuable source of lime, which is used in the construction of houses, especially in places such as the East African coast.

-Corals can also help scientists record environmental changes using geochemical techniques.

When diving or snorkeling around any coral or coral reefs, avoid touching, moving, or taking the coral with you- it is part of a delicate ecosystem that takes thousands of years to rebuild. It is also safer to avoid touching any shells you find, as some contain poisonous organisms that can kill you by biting or touching.

Take care of the coral reef- for the good of our oceans and all organisms that rely on them.