Coral Reefs in Peril - An Appraisal

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities like careless boating, diving, snorkeling, overfi shing, destructive fi shing practices and harvest of live corals for commercial purpose affect the integrity and ecosystem functions of coral reef. Urban and industrial waste, sewage, agrochemicals and oil spills are contaminating sea water, thereby, destroying corals and dependent taxa. Soil erosion due to various human activities augments river sediment content that settles in the ocean, increasing possibility to 'smother' corals by cutting off their sunlight. Dwindling mangrove forests, which normally trap large amounts of sediment, is magnifying the problem. Global warming has already led to increased levels of coral bleaching, and this is predicted to increase in frequency and severity in the coming decades. Thus, conservation strategies to reduce threat and restoration of degraded conditions needs to be prioritized to sustain ecosystem services derived from coral reefs. Stringent legislation to prevent contamination of sea water and reduced human interference around the coral reefs should be implemented instantly.