Coral reefs are beautiful, natural, diverse underwater ecosystems and are home to some of the most magnificent marine life we have on the planet. There are over 4,000 different species of fish as well as a quarter of all marine species living in the coral reefs across the globe, some of which provide food for many people in lots of countries.
As well as provide food for humans and a home for marine life, coral reefs also provide tourists with a chance to experience the great coral reefs and take part in activities such as snorkeling that allow you to get up close with the stunning marine life they have to offer. Coral reefs are also helping in the development of some medicines for fighting diseases such as cancer.
With all of the benefits and beautiful landscapes that coral reefs provide us with, it is up to us to protect them, as currently there are many in danger of dying. The five most important coral reefs and the trouble they are in are outlined below:
–Florida Reef: Situated off Florida’s southern coast, this collection of coral reefs consists of about 6,000 and is the third largest in the world. But, the disease is spreading massively here, endangering species, and much of that may be down to tourism and pollution.
–The Great Barrier Reef: The world’s largest barrier reef system, situated in Queensland, Australia. It is in danger of disappearing as already nearly 35 percent of corals here have been killed by bleaching caused by global warming.
–The Belize Barrier Reef System: The world’s second largest barrier reef system. Spanning 185 miles, it is home to more than 500 different species of fish, as well as hundreds of other types of marine life. Here, the main problems lie in overfishing, damage caused by cruise ships hitting the reefs with their anchors and the pollution they expel.
–The Philippines: The second largest coral reefs in Southeast Asia, they are home to more than three-quarters of all coral species, and their economic worth is valued at more than $2 billion which comes mostly from fishing and tourism. However, it is a double edged sword as it some of these extreme fishing methods that are destroying the reefs and almost all of it is now classified as threatened.
–The Caribbean: Hardly any of the remaining reefs in the Caribbean retain coral today. This is largely done by overfishing, pollution, and disease. Bleaching is also common due to the climate change and rise in temperatures.
These coral reefs are some of the most beautiful sceneries we have in the world today and with just a little help we could save them. Remembering things like not anchoring on a reef and not breaking chunks off unnecessarily are just a couple of ways in which people could be mindful of the magnificent treasures we have and not destroy them. Or, why not help volunteer at an organization to help clean up waterways, rivers or lakes, etc. and see what difference you too can make to our world and our lives.
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