The decline of coral reefs is just the first step towards a point of no return, so why is it happening, and what can we do? 

So, why are our coral reefs dying? Much of the issue can be credited to the rising ocean temperatures. The rising temperatures are caused by greenhouse gases released from burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. And with this, scientists have named the decline in coral reefs as coming to the “tipping point” from ecological damage.

The severity of the death of coral reefs is more than one can comprehend, as coral reefs support over 4,000 species of marine life, not including the many that rely on their products too. For basics, not only do the lives of the fish that live in its ecosystem become endangered, but also the lives that depend on those marine creatures as a food source. Coral reefs support jobs and businesses through recreation and tourism, as many tourists usually spend their money on fun activities that surround the coral reefs. Many economies of areas local to coral reefs rely on money from tourist activities such as diving and fishing trips. This also affects the hotels and restaurants that are located near the coral reefs, which also depend solely on these tourists. 

More importantly, coral reefs are important for clean water. They are home to important filter feeders, like sponges, that filter toxins and contaminants out of the water, and lots of plant life that take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Coral reefs are the key components that we rely on to clean the ocean, since we can’t seem to clean it ourselves. 

When a coral reef dies, it loses its color, often referred to as “bleaching.” Coral reef bleaching is a dangerous sign that things are getting worse, because scientists claim that if the temperatures reach between 1 °C and 1.5 °C, the coral reefs begin to bleach. This indicates the water temperature is way too high and that other life forms and ecosystems are at risk. It is calculated that the global heating now is about 1.4 °C. 

If we are at the point where water is warm enough to kill more than 80% of the coral reefs, then we are getting close to a pivotal time in history that could lead further down the path of a true downfall. 

Coral reef preservation is not the only concern. Warmer waters are also responsible for the death of marine ecosystems. With glaciers melting and waters rising, animals such as penguins, polar bears, seals, and orcas that depend on their environment to survive are at much greater risk of not surviving such conditions. Polar bears have been found stranded, that had passed away due to starvation because they couldn’t find any fish to eat. It’s a domino effect, as everything depends on something, big or small. 

Learn what you can and can’t recycle, learn how to compost, and drive to school with a friend. Do something, do anything that could even slightly impact the environment for the better.