We have wondered when we would start to lose some of the worlds wonders, maybe we need to do something about it. We need to find out why the coral reef is shrinking and what can be done to help? There are some reasons that everybody knows as to why the coral reefs are dying and some that arent so obvious.
Interestingly the Caribbean contains just over 20% of the worlds coral reef and there is a huge amount of damage being done to it. Honduras is a place where they grow several different plantains including bananas, these require a lot of fertilizer. The nutrients released by this fertilizer damage coral and can kill fish in the ocean. Fertilizer, pesticides and erosion do the most damage to the coral reef and the surrounding inhabitants. The fish in the ocean are key to the survival of the coral reefs, although a lot of people dont really know this. The fish in the sea like to eat the bacteria that live an the coral and keep it trim to help promote growth, they also consume the seaweed that is floating around to stop the oxygen being depleted.
Apparently fish have dropped in population rates by around 70-95%, a massive fall. Over-fishing isnt only destroying our food source; it is damaging the coral reef as well.
Another problem is an obvious one, Global Warming. This is the deadliest one though, global warming helped along the way by everyone and depletes the amount or Aragonite in the ocean. This is a carbonate mineral that coral requires to stay alive and even begin growth. In 40 years the acid levels in the sea will reach such high levels, the coral wont be able to survive the conditions.
However there are few things that we can do to try and help. There are ventures to help the coral that we can take part in and have a good time while we do it. If you do go on luxury holidays or Caribbean holidays you could have the option to go and volunteer for a coral clean up operation, where you can help clean coral underwater or on the shore. This isnt just rewarding, you can have a good time while you do it too.
Also if you go fishing around coral, try not to drop anchor, you will tear the coral apart and damage anything living around it
So if your thinking about going abroad or maybe somewhere tropical, maybe some of you want to have weddings abroad, it might be a good idea to get there as soon as you can. If you want you could chip in with the divers and help the coral survive, you never know how much longer it will be around.