The Declining Health of the Great Barrier Reef

Seth Jefson

"There is no time to lose - we must sharply decrease greenhouse gas emissions ASAP," the researchers said.[1]

            The Great Barrier Reef is the largest system of corals found in the world. Climate change is killing the reef. This year, the reef endured its third mass bleaching event that led to researchers declaring that 50% of the healthy coral mass recorded in 1995 are now gone (bbc.com). These bleaching events are caused by rising ocean temperatures that destabilize the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia. The coral, put in a stressful environment, corals will force out much of the algae from their tissues that give them their color. Corals are not dead when they are bleached, but it can be very difficult to reintroduce conditions that would lead to a mass resurgence of health in the region.

            Why bother saving it? Coral reefs offer a myriad of benefits to the oceanic ecosystem as well as continental commerce. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains the importance of coral reefs thusly:

“Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They are also are a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. Fishing, diving, and snorkeling on and near reefs add hundreds of millions of dollars to local businesses. The net economic value of the world’s coral reefs is estimated to be nearly tens of billions of U.S. dollars per year. These ecosystems are culturally important to indigenous people around the world.”.[2]

Unfortunately, its symbol of value to those who have depended on a healthy reef for generations has now become the epicenter of research dedicated the study of how human activity is catastrophic to the ecosystem. Many scientists revel in the perseverance of coral. Its innate ability to survive gives much hope to the business of restoring them to their previous grandeur. This hope, though, is dependent upon a drastic cut of greenhouse gas emissions. Human caused global warming is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef and others worldwide.

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Sources:

“Coral Reef Ecosystems.” Coral reef ecosystems | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2019. https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems.

“Great Barrier Reef Has Lost Half of Its Corals since 1995.” BBC News. BBC, October 14, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54533971.

[1] “Great Barrier Reef Has Lost Half of Its Corals since 1995.” BBC News. BBC, October 14, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54533971.

[2] “Coral Reef Ecosystems.” Coral reef ecosystems | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2019. https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems.