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Some thoughts on Coral Reef Conservation For the Reef Aquarist
Our hobby involves the creation of small bits of a coral reef
community, complete in its wonderful array of diverse and beautiful
organisms. In creating reef aquaria we learn a great deal about the
needs of corals, other marine invertebrates, and fishes, and from
this learning, and the beauty or our charges, we derive much joy and
satisfaction.
Real coral reefs are in the deepest trouble that they have seen in
the last few million years. About 70% of the worlds coral reefs
have been very badly damaged. Many of these will not recover in our
lifetimes or those of our children, and in some cases not for
thousands of years. The worst affected are in the tropical Atlantic-
Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean region, and Brazil. While there
are still coral reefs in pristine condition in the Pacific and Indian
oceans, these number fewer every year. Today, not a single coral
reef system remains in excellent condition anywhere in the Atlantic
Ocean. A mere thirty years ago, most were in spectacular health.
Two of the most important reef-building corals, Acropora cervicornis
and Acropora palmate, are considered threatened species.
Obviously we love these creatures and care a great deal about what is
happening to them in the wild. There is much that we can do to make
them safer in nature.
It begins at home. Ultimately we should avoid the purchase of wild-
collected reef life unless we know it to have been obtained in a
manner that does not harm wild populations or habitats. If this is
the case, then the purchase can potentially benefit conservation by
providing local revenue. The problem we face is that right now,
dealers have no idea where most of their stock originated. 2008 is
the International Year of the Reef. We should set ourselves the goal
of identifying conservation-positive (blue) sources for quality
reef invertebrates, fishes, and live rock that our dealers can buy
from. Then we preferentially purchase stock that our dealers can
assure us came from these sources. This will be most effective if we
follow through and favor our dealers with the demand necessary to
make this work. We should set ourselves a deadline of insisting upon
knowing the provenance of our purchases by one year from today (April
1, 2008), and celebrate this action publicly as one of the reef
aquariums contributions to the International Year of the Reef.
As your corals grow, practice fragmenting and sharing what you have
with others. There are three other things that you can do: (1)
understand what is killing coral reefs, (2) reduce your own
contribution to their demise, and (3) become a teacher and political
activist in any way, small or large, that you possibly can, to
contribute to their survival.
Global climate change is the greatest of all threats to coral reefs.
A warmer earth results in localized areas of extremely warm seawater,
warm enough to cause corals and giant clams to expel their symbiotic
algae. This is called bleaching. If bleaching lasts long enough or
occurs often enough, the bleached corals will die. Thus, thousands
of acres of coral reef are dying every year. The major reason for
the warming is that we are pouring too much carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere by burning things- fossil fuel, forests, and grasslands.
The excess carbon dioxide acts as a greenhouse gas, causing global
heating. But it also has another effect that hits corals and many
other marine organisms very, very hard. When too much carbon dioxide
is in the atmosphere, it dissolves into the ocean and changes its
chemistry. The carbonate ions required by all marine organisms with
a limestone skeleton or shell, become hard to acquire. Also ocean
water becomes more acidic. Together these prevent marine organisms
from building their skeletons as quickly, and may actually erode
their existing skeletons as if they had been bathed in acid. Because
of these effects, the growth rates of corals have already been
reduced by about ten percent from what they were 200 years ago. But
that is just the beginning. By 2100, at the rate that we are going
now, growth rates will be reduced by about 40%. As it becomes more
difficult for corals to grow and heal, colony after colony will fall
prey to diseases, predators, competitors, and hurricanes: natural
forces that they formerly were able to deal with effectively. As a
coup de grace, coastal pollution, overfishing, and an increase in the
intensity of hurricanes caused by a warmer ocean, are making it even
harder for coral reefs to hold their own in todays rapidly changing
world.
Global climate change is real. It is no longer in question, either,
that people are responsible for a great deal of it- more than enough
to make the difference if we stopped pouring so much carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere. It is also beyond question that people have
overfished, polluted, and monumentally degraded ocean ecosystems.
For those of us who care deeply about corals and coral reefs, these
thoughtless, large-scale impacts caused by people must be stopped.
We can save energy individually to set a proper example for others.
The usual- avoiding any waste of energy, water, or things that
required energy and water to produce. But energy conservation and
recycling in our homes, while essential, is simply not enough. In
addition, we must act politically. Make sure that your congressional
representatives and senators know how you feel. Write them, or if
close by, march into their offices and make sure they are fighting
for your interest in a healthy environment. Learn enough about
earths climate and renewable energy not to be hoodwinked by leaders
who insidiously distort science for their own ends. Never miss an
opportunity to vote, and when you vote, vote for your own and your
loved ones futures.
Remember the people around the world who live by coral reefs, and
whose lives depend upon the health and welfare of these ecosystems.
Support their livelihoods by purchasing ethically collected stock,
and captive-reared stock produced in the country of origin. When you
visit coral reef nations on vacation, support local conservation
efforts and environmentally sensitive forms of employment. Many
people who depend upon coral reefs lead a marginal existence and
cannot be easily faulted for fishing or collecting reefs into
oblivion. Do what you can to support sustainable alternatives. If
appropriate actions are not obvious, think of some and encourage
others to join you. Remember that all people who depend upon coral
reefs are also in danger of seeing their homes and lands swallowed by
the sea as glaciers melt and oceans warm and expand. Reefs, too,
shall be affected as waters deepen and sunlight dims.
The marine aquarium industry is working to become a force for
conservation. Check out the websites for the Marine Aquarium Council
and the Reef Protection Institute. Encourage them to do more, and
make sure that your dealer does everything possible to sell
conservation-neutral or conservation-pro aquarium livestock. Assist
organizations working in coral reef conservation such as Conservation
International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Nature
Conservancy, and others. Adopt a coral reef, find out who the local
conservation organizations and environmental leaders are, and give
them support. Teach children- and anybody who will sit still long
enough- about the threats to coral reefs and how we can turn the
world around. Use the beauty of your aquarium to inspire and
instruct them. Spread the fire to the diving community, and to
anybody else you can recruit to this cause. Coral reefs are a
bellwether for the world- for our farms and crops, for our supply of
fresh water, for our fisheries, for all the good things that the
earth provides to sustain us. The death of coral reefs is a
harbinger for the future of all humanity. What we do to save coral
reefs will ultimately save ourselves. The fruit of our efforts will
be engraved in the fossil record. Let that story speak to our great
great grandchildren of wonders saved for their enjoyment, and not of
catastrophe caused by the thoughtlessness and stupidity of their
ancestors.
Les Kaufman
Professor of Biology
Boston University Marine Program
and
Senior PI
Marine Management Area Science
Conservation International
I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.
George W. Bush
Saginaw, Michigan; September 29, 2000
unclenedsfishfactory.com
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