AUSTIN (KXAN) — Coral reefs around the world are facing some tough times. Between disease, warming oceans and human involvement, many reefs are dying off.
This month, scientists reported that the ocean surrounding the great barrier reef was the hottest it has been in 400 years over the past decade, jeopardizing the species that live there.
“Now is the time to redouble the efforts” to save coral reefs, according to Peter Edmunds, a professor of Biology at California State University Northridge.
In an article published on August 9th in the science journal Bioscience, Edmunds argues for further focus on the undersea creature. “If we’re going to have a chance to really save them, we need to know in what condition they’re currently occurring and how they’re likely to change.”
In the paper, Edmunds argues for more research, restoration efforts and changes to environmental policy around the world.
Coral reefs in a crisis
Damage to the coral reefs is something felt locally by Matthey Degutis, owner of Austin Aqua Farms. The company collects coral from the ocean near Indonesia and Australia, while also growing coral at their facility in Austin.
“We’ve run into some issues before where we’ve had some coral bleaching on some of the reefs, like the Great Barrier Reef, for instance,” Degutis said.
Degutis said when bleaching occurs, it takes several months before they can gather coral from the area, which would then be brought to the farm.
Bleaching, where coral lose all their color and turn bone white, is just one of the issues affecting coral. Disease, warm waters and storms brought about by extreme weather are also to blame for the devastation.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coral and coral reefs are big business. Half a billion people depend on coral reefs for food, income and protection from storms. It is estimated that coral reefs are worth tens of billions of dollars each year.
Coral reefs provide the same for wildlife. Many fish use them as homes and hunting grounds.
“Coral reefs are in a bit of a pickle right now. There’s been hot water, there’s been coral disease, there’s been death of all kinds, and they’ve really drastically changed,” Edmunds said. He began researching the reefs forty years ago.
Edmunds said that not giving up hope is essential. “People tend to think, well, it’s a done deal. The future is written. They will all die off and they’ll be gone. And that is not true.”