A coral is composed of tiny, fragile
animals called coral polyps. When we say "coral" we
are actually referring to the animals and the skeletons they leave behind
after they die. Although there are hundreds of different species
of corals, they are generally classified as either "hard coral"
or "soft coral". Hard corals grow in
colonies and are the architects of coral reefs. They include
such species as brain coral and elkhorn coral. Their skeletons
are made out of calcium carbonate (also known as limestone) which harden
and eventually becomes rock. Hard corals are hermatypes or reef-building
corals and need tiny algae called zooxanthellae (pronounced zo-zan-THEL-ee)
to survive. Generally, when we talk about "coral" we
are referring to hard corals.Soft corals such
as sea fingers and sea whips, are soft and bendable and often resemble
plants or trees. These corals do not have stony skeletons, but
instead grow wood-like cores for support and fleshy rinds for protection.
They are referred to as hermatypes or non-reef building corals and they
do not always have zooxanthellae. Soft corals are found in both
tropical seas and in cool, dark regions.
Coral Reef
Coral reefs are massive structures made
of limestone that is deposited by living things. Although thousands
of species inhabit coral reefs, only a fraction produce the limestone
that builds the reef. The most important reef building organisms
are corals.Coral reefs support over twenty five
percent of all known marine species. As one of the most complex
ecosystems on the planet, coral reefs are home to over 4,000 different
species of fish, 700 species of coral and thousands of other plants
and animals.A good way to imagine a coral reef
is to think of it as a bustling city or community, with buildings made
of coral, and thousands of inhabitants coming and going, carrying out
their business. In this sense, a coral reef is like a metropolis
under the sea.
Coral Polyp
A coral polyp is a spineless coral animal.
Coral polyps can be the size of a pinhead while others are larger, sometimes
a foot in diameter. One coral branch or mound is covered by thousands
of these animals. They are invertebrates (spineless animals) and
are cousins of anemones and jellyfish. When thousands of these
animals are grouped together, they are referred to as coral colonies.
Each coral "tree" or "mound" is one colony of coral
polyps. A polyp has a sac-like body and an opening or mouth encircled
by stinging tentacles called cnidae. The polyp uses calcium carbonate
from seawater to build itself a hard, cup-shaped skeleton. This
limestone skeleton protects the soft, delicate body of the polyp.
Coral polyps are usually nocturnal, meaning that they stay inside their
skeletons during the day. At night polyps extend their tentacles
out to feed..
Coral
reefs are found in over 100 countries. Most reefs are located
between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in places such as the Pacific
Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the Read Sea and the Arabian
Gulf. Corals are also found farther from the equator in places
where warm currents flow out of the tropics, such as Florida and southern
Japan. Worldwide, coral reefs cover an estimated 284,300 square
kilometers (110,000 square miles).Coral reefs
grow best in waters with a temperature of between 21 and 29 degrees
Celsius (70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit). It is possible for soft
corals to grow in hotter and colder places, but growth rates under these
conditions are very slow. Corals prefer clear and shallow waters,
where lots of sunlight filters through to their symbiotic algae.
It is possible to find corals at depths of up to 91 meters (300 feet),
but reef-building corals grow poorly below 18-27 meters (60 to 90 feet).
Corals also grow poorly near river openings or coastal areas with excessive
run-off, because corals need salt water to survive.
How long does it take for coral
to grow?
Corals grown at different rates, depending
on water temperature, salinity, turbulence, and the availability of
food. The massive corals are the slowest growing species, adding
between 5 and 25 millimeters (.2 inches to an inch) per year to their
length. Branching and Staghorn corals can grown much faster,
adding as much as 20 centimeters (8 inches) to their branches each year.
How do corals get their shape?
The variety of shapes and sizes of coral
colonies largely depends on their location and species. Some species
form hard, pointed shapes, while others form soft, rounded shapes.
The shape of coral colonies also depends on the location of the coral.
For example, where there are strong waves corals tend to grown
into robust mounds or flattened shapes. In more sheltered areas
the same species may grow in more intricate shapes such as delicate
branching patterns.How do Coral Polyps
eat? Coral polyps eat in two different
ways, depending on their species. Many coral polyps are nourished
in a unique way by a tiny algae called zooxanthellae (pronounced zo-zan-THEL-ee).
The algae live within coral polyps, using sunlight to make sugar for
energy, just like plants. Zooxanthellae process the polyp's wastes
to retain important nutrients and in turn provide the polyp with oxygen.
Meanwhile, the coral polyps provide the algae with carbon dioxide and
a sage, protected home. Zooxanthellae living with the tissue
of hard corals can supply them with up to 98 percent of their nutritional
needs.Another way that corals eat is by catching
tiny floating animals known as zooplankton. At night the polyps
come out of their skeletons to feed, making the reef look like a "wall
of mouths". The polyps stretch out their long, stinging tentacles
to capture the zooplankton that are floating by. The captures
plankton are then put into the polyp's mouths and digested in their
stomachs.
How do corals get their colour?
Most coral polyps have clear bodies and
their skeletons are white, like human bones. Most corals get their
colour from the zooxanthellae inside them. Several million zooxanthellae
live in just one square inch of coral and produce pigments. These
pigments are visible through the clear body of the polyp and give the
coral its beautiful colour.
How do Corals reproduce?
Coral reproductive methods vary, depending
on the species. Some species such as brain and star corals are
hermaphrodites, meaning they produce both sperm and eggs at the same
time. Other corals, such as Elkhorn and boulder corals, are gonochoric,
meaning that they produce single-sex colonies. In these species,
all of the polyps in one colony produce only sperm and all of the polyps
in another colony produce only eggs. Coral larvae
are formed in two different ways. The larvae are either fertilized
within the body of a polyp or outside the polyp's body in the water.
Fertilization of an egg within the body of a coral polyp is achieved
from sperm that is released through the mouth of another polyp.
The sperm and egg merge and form a planula larvae, which matures inside
the body of its mother. When the larva is ready, it is "spit"
into the water through the mouth of its mother. Other species
of coral reproduce by ejecting large quantities of eggs and sperm fertilize
in the water. This process is called coral spawning. In
some areas, mass coral spawning events occur on one night a year and
scientists can predict exactly when this will happen. Trillions
of eggs and sperm are simultaneously released into the water in one
of the most astounding acts of synchronicity in the natural world.
Once in the sea, larva are naturally attracted to light.
They swim to the surface of the ocean, where they remain for days or
even weeks. If predators do not eat the larva during this time,
they fall back to the ocean floor and attach themselves to a hard surface.
An attached planula metamorphasizes into a coral polyp and begins to
grow and divide itself in half, making exact genetic copies of itself.
As more and more polyps are added, a coral colony develops. Eventually
the coral colony becomes mature, begins reproducing and the cycle of
life continues!
What do Corals need to survive?
Sunlight: Corals need
to grow in shallow water where sunlight can reach them. Since
corals depend on the zooxanthellae (algae) that grow inside of them
and this algae needs sunlight to survive, corals too need sunlight
to survive. Therefore, corals rarely develop deeper than 50
meters (165 feet).
Clear Water: Corals
needs clear water to survive and don't thrive well when the water
is opaque. Sediment and plankton can cloud the water which decreases
the amount of sunlight that reaches the zooxanthellae.
Temperature: Reef
building corals require warm water conditions to survive. Different
corals living in different regions can withstand different temperature
fluctuations. However, corals generally live in water temperatures
ranging from 20 to 32 degrees Celsius (68 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit).
Clean Water: Corals
are sensitive to pollution and sediment. Sediment can settle
on coral, blocking out sunlight and smothering coral polyps.
Pollution from sewage and fertilizers increases nutrient levels in
the water, harming corals. When there are too many nutrients
in the water, the ecological balance of the coral community is altered.
Saltwater: Corals
need saltwater to survive and require a certain balance in the ratio
of salt to water. This is why corals don't live in areas where
rivers drain fresh water into the ocean.
The geological record indicates that the ancestors
of modern coral reef ecosystems were formed at least 350 million years
ago. The coral reefs existing today began growing as early as
50 million years ago. Most established coral reefs are between
5,000 and 10,000 years old. Although size sometimes indicates
the age of a coral reef, this is not always true. Different species
of coral grow at different rates, depending on water temperature, oxygen
level, amount of turbulence, and availability of food.
How is a coral reef constructed?
Coral reefs are complex, multi-story structures with
holes and crevices shared by various creatures. If a coral reef
can be thought of as a metropolis of the sea, then a coral colony can
be thought of as an apartment building with many different rooms and
hallways that house different marine species. Not all coral species
build reefs. The actual architects of coral reefs are hard or
stony corals, which are referred to as hermatypic or reef-building corals.
As the polyps of stony corals grow, the produce limestone for their
skeletons. When they die, their skeletons are left behind and
are used as foundations for new polyps, which build new skeletons over
the old ones. An actual coral mound or tree is composed of layer
upon layer of skeletons covered by a thin layer of living polyps.Other
types of animals and plants also contribute to the structure of the
reef. Many types of algae, seaweed, sponge, sediment and even
mollusks like giant clams and oysters, add to the architecture of a
coral reef. When these organisms die, they also serve as foundation
for new corals.
What are the different types of reefs?
Scientists generally divide coral reefs into four classes:
fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls and patch reefs:
Fringing reefs grow near
the coastline around islands and continents. They separate from
the shore by narrow, shallow lagoons. Fringing reefs are the most
common type of reef that we see.
Barrier reefs also parallel
the coastline but are separated by deeper, wider lagoons. At their
shallowest point they can reach the water's surface forming a "barrier"
to navigation. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the most famous
example and is the largest barrier reef in the world.
Atolls are rings of corals
that create protected lagoons and are usually located in the middle
of the sea. Atolls usually form when islands surrounded by fringing
reefs sink into the sea or the sea level rises around them (these islands
are often the tops of underwater volcanoes). The fringing reefs
continue to grow and eventually form circles with lagoons inside.
Patch reefs are small, isolated
reefs that grow up from the open bottom of the island platform or continental
shelf. They usually occur between fringing reefs and barrier reefs.
They vary greatly in size, and they rarely reach the surface of the
water.
Coral reefs make a healthy world
Coral
reefs are one of the most spectacular and fragile of underwater environments,
covering less than one percent of the ocean floor but supporting an estimated
twenty-five percent of all marine life. Even though they are located
in the tropics, coral reefs can benefit people and the natural world far
beyond their boundaries.
Millions of humans
depend on coral reefs
"By one
estimate, coral reefs provide economic goods and ecosystem services worth
about $375 billion each year to millions of people." (Robert
Constanza et. al. 1997)Many countries with coral
reefs generate significant portions of their income through tourism.
Studies show that on average, countries with coral reef industries derive
more than half of their gross national product from them. A good
example can be found in Bonaire, a small Caribbean island. Bonaire
earns about $23 million USD annually from coral reef activities--yet managing
its marine park costs less than $1 million dollars annually. (F.
Talbot and C. Wilkinson, 2001)The variety of marine
life and protected beaches supported by coral reefs provide an inviting
setting for sightseers, sunbathers, snorkelers, and scuba divers.
In fact, there are more than 8.5 million certified scuba divers in the
United States who spend money on dive vacations each year. In 1997,
the State of Florida earned $1.6 billion USD from coral reef and beach
related tourism. For residents of coral reef areas that depend on
income from tourism, reef destruction creates a significant loss of jobs
in the tourism,marine recreation and sport fishing industries.Coral
reefs are also a significant source of protein for millions of people.
For people who live in coral reef areas, coral reefs are part of their
lives. Reefs are directly linked with traditional, spiritual and
cultural values of many people who live in reef areas.Coral
reef save livesJust like species in the
rain forest, reef animals and plants contain medicinal compounds, many
of which are just being discovered. Several important drugs have
already been developed from chemicals found in coral reef organisms.
The most famous of these is AZT, a treatment for people with HIV infections,
which is based on chemicals extracted from a Caribbean reef sponge.Unique
compounds from coral reefs have also yielded treatments for cardiovascular
diseases, ulcers, leukemia and skin cancer. In addition, coral's
unique skeletal structure has been used to make our most advanced forms
of bone grafting materials.Amazingly, more than
half of all new cancer drug research focuses on marine organisms.
The beautiful and fragile creatures of our coral reefs have the potential
to make even greater contributions to our lives by providing new cures
for life-threatening diseases.
Coral reefs
protect the beaches
Another benefit that
people received from coral reefs is the guard they keep on our coastlines.
Reefs serve as a buffer, protecting inshore areas from the pounding of
ocean waves. Without coral reefs, many beaches and buildings would
become vulnerable to wave action and storm damage. In on instance,
when coral and sand was mined away in the Maldives, it cost $10 million
USD per kilometer to build a wall to protect the coastline. (Coral
Reefs, Mangroves and Seagrasses: A sourcebook for Managers, F. Talbot
and C. Wilkinson, 2001)
Animals that live
nowhere else
Coral reefs are a high-density
location of biodiversity. This means that the variety of species
living on a coral reef is greater than almost anywhere in the world.
When we protect coral reefs, we protect an abundant array of life.Coral
reefs provide shelter for nearly one quarter of all know marine species.
Over the last 350 million years, reefs have evolved into one of
the largest and most complex ecosystems on the planet. The reefs
are home to over 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands
of other forms of plant and animal life. Scientists estimate that,
in total, more than 1 million species of plants and animals are associated
with the coral reef ecosystem.
Coral normally gets most of its oxygen
and nutrients from tiny algae that live within it, called zooxanthellae
(zoo-zan-THEL-ee) and without this algae, corals would die. Zooxanthellae
also contains pigments, which give coral colonies their beautiful colours.
Sometimes, when coral is under extreme stress, it expels the zooxanthellae,
causing the coral to turn white. Coral bleaching is a term used
to describe this process.
Why does coral bleach?
Coral bleaching is caused by environmental
stresses. Sometimes, small, localized bleaching events result
from chemical spills, sedimentation, and decreases in ocean salinity
from heavy rains or flooding. However, large global instances
of bleaching, called mass bleaching, appear to be caused primarily by
an increase in water temperature or ultraviolet radiation. Even
small temperature increases, as little as a 1-degree Celsius above normal
temperature range, over a period of a few days, can force exposed coral
to expel it zooxanthellae. If conditions quickly return to normal,
the coral may recover and regenerate over time. Unfortunately,
in the face of other numerous or chronic threats, corals are often vulnerable
and therefore die from the bleaching process.
How serious is the coral bleaching
process?
Incidences of localized bleaching, from
factors such as chemical spills and sedimentation, have been recorded
since 1870. Since 1983, however, a new phenomenon has appeared,
called mass coral bleaching. In such instances, elevated water
temperature and increased amounts of UV light cause coral reefs in unrelated
areas around the world to bleach during the warm season. Many
mass bleaching are correlated with El Niņo/La Niņa events, which create
unusual warm water currents. Many scientists are also concerned
that global warming is leading to elevated water temperatures and consequently
causing mass bleaching events.
What can I do about coral bleaching?
The best thing you can do to prevent mass
coral bleaching is use "precautionary methods" when thinking
about how you use energy. For instance, try using less energy
(because most energy comes from burning fossil fuels) and support alternative
energy sources, such as wind and solar power. You can also walk
or ride a bike, instead of driving, buy energy-efficient appliances,
recycle paper products, and plant trees. Ask your policy makers
to support sustainable energy sources and efficient energy use.
In addition, you can support conservation organizations that are working
to prevent climate change and/or support coral reef conservation groups
too. If you scuba dive or snorkel, keep a lookout for bleached
colonies. You can play an important role in alerting scientists
as soon as coral bleaching begins, so that they can study the phenomenon
and try to determine its causes. If you think you've found a section
of bleached coral, report it to your dive operator and ask them to notify
the nearest marine research station.
Much remains unknown about the
diversity of life on Earth. Promoting biodiversity research is an important
component of its preservation. Up-to-date quantitative and qualitative
data lay a foundation to all types of activities involved in the conservation
of biodiversity. Biodiversity inventories should be a priority for all
countries. Similarly, long-term, site-specific, multidisciplinary research
on the links among biodiversity, sustainable economic development and
conservation is important. Rapid ecological assessments are a fast way
to gather information about the biodiversity of an area. Research should
include a balance between basic and applied research. Included in all
this should be improving skills and institutional capacity, and an awareness
of the rights of the local people and the responsibilities of researchers.
Studying biodiversity means documenting its composition,
distribution, structure, and function. Integral to this is understanding
the roles and functions of genes, species, and ecosystems, and the complex
links between modified and natural systems. Systematics, the description
and classification of species, is fundamental for our understanding
of biological diversity. Identification of a particular species provides
the basis into further research and for management of that species.
Systematics collections are maintained by many countries, and are used
to support a variety of pure and applied studies. Systematics collections
can aid in identifying a species and determining if a specimen is actually
a new species, as well as providing an inventory of biodiversity.
Some of the key biodiversity research topics include
Inventory of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
Estimation of how fast biological diversity is changing and how change
will affect community structure and ecosystem processes.
Determination the consequences of anthropogenic
and other environmental changes and on the evolution of species.
Research on rare and endangered species in order
to develop the scientific information needed to sustain populations
and stop their decline.
Expanded research into systematics in order to develop
a stable nomenclature, and to enhance the ability to use inferential
techniques to mobilize biodiversity’s benefits.
Determining patterns and indicators of ecological
responses to stress in order to develop techniques to assess the status
of ecological systems, to assess and forecast stress, and to monitor
the recovery of damaged ecosystems.
Investigating potential impacts of climate change
on ecological systems and exploring means of mitigating damages.
Developing and testing principles of restoration
ecology.
Improving and expanding on techniques for monitoring
biological diversity and ecological processes.
Intensifying research into population ecology.
Determining impacts of changes in land use patterns
and the uses of water resources on species diversity and ecological
processes.
Screening species for their potential value for
humanity, such as medicinal plants etc.
Long term ecological research at selected sites
in order to advance understanding of ecosystem composition, structure
and function.
Systemizing and using the knowledge of local populations
about biological diversity and sustainable management.
Modern assimilation of biological diversity through
new technologies and their relationship with ethnobiology. Research
into biotechnology and exploiting biological diversity through new
technologies.
Data gathering is a tool for decision making. Data
gathering and research provide the basis for developing national, regional
and international strategies, plans and programs for the conservation
and sustainable use of biological diversity. Long-term studies are needed
in order to develop a full understanding regionally of the composition,
structure and functioning of ecosystems. Long term studies also lend
themselves to monitoring ecosystems and tracking changes in the health,
species composition, and functioning of those ecosystems.
The specification and design of databases required
to store and process biodiversity data will have to be considered according
to each country’s needs, priorities and existing information management
capabilities. The most effective way to handle spatial and spatially-related
data is in a relational database linked to a Geographic Information
System (GIS), capable of producing maps incorporating layers of data
from the databases. A GIS is a powerful tool with extensive spatial
data analysis capabilities that can reinforce the process of national
and regional biodiversity conservation and policy-making, and long-term
integrated resource management.
The world's tropical coastal zone contains
coral reefs, one of the most productive and biologically rich ecosystems
on the planet. Almost half a billion people live within 100 km
(60 miles) of coral reefs and this population continues to grow along
with expanding coastal development. The growth of cities, the
building of roads and airports, dredging of harbours and shipping channels,
and other construction projects are threatening coral reefs primarily
from the deposition of sediment and poorly treated sewage. Damage
tot he coral reef community as a result of unplanned coastal development
leads to long-term socio-economic loss. By using Intercoastal
Zone Management (ICZM) practices, a country can create sustainable coastal
development projects that also serve to protect their coral reefs.The
ProblemUnplanned coastal development
projects not only damage coral reefs, but also local economies that
are supported by tourism. Eighty-five percent of all tourism worldwide
is in coastal areas, fueling a $385 billion dollar industry. The
sustainability of reef ecosystems, a significant driver of this industry
and the communities that it supports, are compromised by unplanned,
high-impact development.Ecological Impacts
of Unplanned Coastal Development:
Kills coral directly through the construction projects,
such as piers, dikes, channels, and airstrips.
Removal of sections of reef has indirect impacts,
such as sand erosion, land retreat, and sedimentation.
Other impacts of development, such as chronic sedimentation,
sewage effluent, and industrial discharge, impact corals' immune systems,
growth rates, and reproduction abilities, and may cause death
Socio-Economic Impacts of Unplanned Coastal Development
Unless ICZM is implemented, tourism will decline,
leading to loss in revenue. In countries, such as Barbados,
coral reefs which were described in 1919 as "good thriving reef"
with "acres of bottom crowded coral", no longer exist.
The degradation of the Barbados reef is a result of the rapid development
of the coastal zone since the 1950s and the corresponding decrease
in water quality.
Coral mining of material for development projects
is unsustainable. For example, Indonesia produces US$121,000
per km (per .6 miles) of reef while causing net losses of US$93,600
in fisheries value, US$12,000-260,000 in coastal protection and US$2,900-481,900
in tourism value (plus unknown costs due to loss of food security
and biodiversity) for a maximum total loss of US$835,500 per km of
reef.
SolutionICZM is
an approach to develop and implement environmentally, culturally and economically
sustainable uses of the coastal zone. This approach requires a coherent
set of resource management policies and practices across the public and
private sector that coordinates the management of sustainable development.
The key to ICZM is that all uses and activities are coordinated according
to an agreed upon set of policies, and that the coordinated plan is effectively
implemented. This process may require a coordinating mechanism,
such as an inter-ministerial council or commission with representatives
from all the public and private sectors, along with mechanisms to ensure
proper implementation, such as the clarification of authorities, an accountable
lead agency, and/or economic incentives (e.g., withholding of infrastructure
funding until the plan is completed and/or implemented).Integration
of knowledge and programs is essential for success. Many governments
traditionally treat each activity separately. There may be one law
and set of regulations for pollution from factories, one for fisheries,
and one for coastal building permits, all administered by different agencies.
The sector-by-sector approach focuses solely upon one issue or constituency
and could result in a loss of valuable resources. For example, if
a country decides to establish a marine reserve, but has not used an ICZM
approach to select the location and coordinate other coastal zone activities,
the reserves protection may be undetermined by future uncoordinated development.
ICZM requires sound infrastructure and planning. Existing agencies
will still carry out specific management programs while the ICZM authority
will concentrate on policy, strategy, planning, design, supervision of
research and coordination.Creating an ICZM
Strategy
Determine whether traditional principles or resource
management measures exist and whether their appropriate implementation
could enhance coastal resource management;
Engage in participatory action research with local
communities to extract anecdotal and traditional knowledge, to involve
local stakeholders in policy planning and implementation, and to create
local support for coastal management policies;.
Inventory coastal environments, resources, and programs
to support the continuous supply of data on the state of the coastal
environment;
Determine the short-term and long-term goals that
call for coastal development consistent with the preservation of the
environment and create a strategy for coastal zone management;
Create and enforce a strong legal and institutional
framework, including economic incentives to reinforce desired behaviours
and outcomes;
Develop a strong coastal management constituency
and partnerships at the local, regional and national levels;
Establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), including
no-take reserves, to protect, preserve and sustainably manage species
and ecosystems of special value (this includes threatened species
and habitats);
Perform Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)
of all development projects in the terrestrial and aquatic sections
of the coastal zone;
Assess and monitor pollutants in the water column
and make a plan for pollution control.
Other recommendations:
Ratify and implement international and regional
policies such as:
The Montreal Declaration on the Protection of
Marine Environment from Land-based Activities
The Convention on Wetlands, otherwise known
as the Ramsar Convention;
Cartagena Convention for the Protection and
Development of the Marine Environment;
Programme of Action from the Global Conference
on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;
and
The Protocol for Specially Protected Areas and
Wildlife (SPAW).
Tourism
Impacts on Coral Reefs : Increasing Awareness in the Tourism Sector
by Tom van't Hof (2001) looks at the impact of tourism on the coral
reefs of the Caribbean.
The International Coral Reef Initiative
(ICRI) is one of the leading authorities in the fight for coral reef
presevation. This organisation operates through regional bodies
around the globe and is well recognised by governments and NGO's alike
for experise in this regard. For
more information ...
Cyanide fishing is a popular method of
capturing live reef fish for the seafood and aquarium markets.
It is widely practiced in Southeast Asia and South Pacific and is starting
to spread to other parts of the world. Cyanide fishers squirt
cyanide into coral holes and crevices, where reef fish seek refuge.
The cyanide stuns the fish, making it easy for cyanide fishers to capture
their dazed prey. The cyanide poisons reefs and is extremely harmful
to coral polyps and other reef organisms. Furthermore, less than
half the fish caught with cyanide survive long enough to be sold to
aquariums or restaurants.
Are cyanide
fishing practices increasing?
When the practice began cyanide fishing was primarily
used to gather tropical fish for aquariums. Now, in addition
to the aquarium trade, demand for live fish for restaurants in many
Asian cities is increasing the drive for this destructive practice.
An estimated 65 tons of cyanide are sprayed each
year on Philippine coral reefs alone.
Destructive cyanide fishing practices are spreading
from currently over-harvested and devastated reefs in the Philippines
to remote and pristine coral reefs in eastern Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea, Palau, Tuvalu, the Federated States of Micronesia, and other
nations of the Western Pacific.
Why do people use cyanide?
In
the South Pacific and the Southeast Asia market demand for live reef fish
has created incentives for local fishers to turn to modern fishing techniques,
such as cyanide fishing, to support themselves and their families.
The profits from live fish, such as grouper, wrasse, rock cod and snapper
are many times higher than that of dead fish. Exporters demand
much more money for live fish than dead fish at luxury fish markets in
Asia. While most nations have decided that the profits from cyanide
fishing are not worth its destructive cost, many governments do not have
the resources to monitor and enforce laws against cyanide use.
What
can you do to stop cyanide fishing?
Don't purchase live reef fish at a restaurant or
only purchase it if you are certain it was caught in a sustainable
way.
If you own an aquarium, make sure you have reef
fish that were caught without cyanide.
Encourage your aquarium shop retailer to purchase
fish that are caught by fishers who use nets instead of cyanide.
The concept of sustaining biodiversity means conserving
biological resources so that they last indefinately. According to the
manual on Global Biodiversity Strategy (produced by World Resources
Institute (WRI), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1992) the development of national and
international policy frameworks that foster the sustainable use of biological
resources and maintenance of biodiversity are important conservation
objectives.
Conditions and incentives for effective conservation
by local communities need to be created. Biodiversity conservation cannot
be successful unless local communities receive their fair share of benefits
from and assume a greater role in managing local biological resources.
The tools for conserving biological diversity must
also be strengthened and applied more broadly. These tools include protected
areas, seed banks, botanic gardens etc. The conservation tools cannot
serve their purpose if they are underfunded and understaffed. The human
capacity for conserving and using biodiversity sustainably must be greatly
strengthened, particularly in developing countries. Conservation can
only succeed if people understand the distribution and value of biodiversity,
understand how it influences their own lives and aspirations, and learn
to manage areas to meet human needs without diminishing biological diversity.
Finally, conservation action must be catalyzed through international
cooperation and national planning.
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