How to Restore Coral Reefs
Coral reefs throughout the world face threats from rapid coastal development, fishing practices, pollution, ocean acidification and damage done by tourists. Coral grows half an inch per year and once destroyed is almost impossible to recover. Coral reefs provide medical benefits including antiviral and cancer treatment drugs. They protect shorelines from erosion by acting as a buffer, provide feeding and breeding grounds for thousands of fish species, and attract much-needed tourism to many communities. On a positive note, marine biologists and volunteer organizations now combine in working vacations that restore damaged reefs, strand by strand.
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Instructions
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Volunteer with an organization such as the Reef Ball Foundation, Coral Cay Conservation, the Earth Watch Institute, Reef Relief and the Reef Doctor. These locations work from areas such as Fiji, Honduras, Belize, Thailand, Egypt and the Bahamas and have placements for both qualified scuba divers and non-divers.
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Restore damaged coral reefs by transplanting broken remains of fast-growing corals found on the sea bed into areas where the coral reefs have been damaged. Attach the extra coral to the reef to help it recover and survive. Volunteers plant new coral. On conservation projects such with the Reef Ball Foundation they can plant about 150 coral plants in a week. They carry 15 to 20 lbs. of coral transplant supplies, which include coral propagation putty, and a special three-minute setting concrete for making coral plugs, which the foundation supplies.
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Aid the preservation of reefs by collecting data at a reef sanctuary. This helps prevent coral reef losses in the future. Data collected include the types of fish seen feeding on the reef and any damage. You will also note the causes of the damage such as storms or pollution in the area.
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References
- Photo Credit tauchen image by Christian Schoettler from Fotolia.com
