Coral Scenarios

Coral Bleaching: Coral bleaching occurs when coral becomes stressed and the algae that it depends on for food and color dies out, leaving a white and bleached skeleton of calcium carbonate. Coral bleaching can be caused by increased water temperature or runoff of silt from the land, which covers the coral and prevents photosynthesis. Aesthetically coral bleaching can cause a lack of tourist, because coral reefs which do not have an abundance of color will not attract visitors. Economically, coral bleaching can cause damage to homes and property by lessening the buffer zone through the degradation of its structural integrity, by allowing higher tides to cause erosion. Finally, ecologically, coral bleaching disrupts the familiar food chain of aquatic ecosystems through the loss of homes for various little fish such as fairy basslets, blue tangs, shrimp, and angelfish which are food sources for larger consumers such as Coney and Morey eels. Through the loss of coral, little fish begin to die, and as a result secondary and higher-level consumers die due to a lack of food. Coral bleaching can be treated by adding large amounts of hydrogen peroxide into the surrounding waters and allowing for the tide to bring it in. 

Fishing with dynamite: Blast fishing destroys the calcium carbonate coral skeletons and is one of the continual disruptions of coral reefs, and as a result, weakened rubble fields of coral are formed and fish habitats are reduced. Aesthetically, it has the same result of coral bleaching, but the consequences are much more severe, as the coral will never be able to return to its previous form.  The damaged coral reefs from blast fishing lead to instant declines in fish species wealth and quantity.  Explosives used in blast fishing not only kill fish but also destroy coral skeletons, creating an unbalanced food web within the aquatic ecosystem. Lingering pollution produced from the blast is also a large issue. Economically it creates problems for fisherman who use legitimate fishing methods. Although blast fishing is illegal, it is not a complete solution to prevent fisherman from using the method. Stronger legislation and larger fines should be implemented to prevent this inhumane form of capturing fish.

Coastal development:  Coastal development degrades the natural resources and services that make coastal areas filled with coral so enjoyable and ecologically and economically valuable. Coastal development can cause economic damage, as it encourages erosion due to rising sea levels. At least 30% of coral reefs are damaged from coastal development and 40-60% of coral reefs are threatened. Construction projects, such as piers, dikes, channels, and airstrips kill corals directly. Habitat degradation causes a decrease in fish populations, as fish have fewer places to live and breed. This has a domino effect which harms other species as well such as tertiary consumers such as Gray reef sharks and even producers such as algae, phytoplankton and zooplankton.