Page 108 - AlertDiver_Spring2013

WATER PLANET
106 | SPRING 2013
In response to growing and
widespread threats to coral
reefs, in December 2012
NOAA Fisheries proposed list-
ing 66 species of coral under
the Endangered Species Act.
Think back to your first dive on a coral reef.
Remember the clear, turquoise water and the
fields of multicolored, intertwining branches
or massive mounds that were home to a never-
ending ballet of bright, tropical fish and a host of other
unforgettable creatures. For many divers, these are memories
of days gone by; healthy reefs are becoming rarer each year.
Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and
economically valuable ecosystems on earth. They offer
unmatched beauty while protecting shorelines and providing
hundreds of billions of dollars worth of food, jobs and
recreation. For centuries, many tropical island and coastal
cultures have depended on coral reefs for sustenance and
livelihoods.
Divers make pilgrimages to experience the wonders of
reefs, seeking adventures and encounters with nature. But
we see the changes taking place in the undersea world. Many
coral reefs are bleached or disappearing, and the species that
depend on them are dwindling.
Broad protections for reefs have been in effect for years.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), along with other federal and state agencies as well
as industry and conservation groups, work alongside ocean
users to protect reefs. Although these efforts have resulted
in many successes, corals are still at risk. In an effort to
confront the challenges that threaten corals with extinction,
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries)
is now proposing new protections for many coral species
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
In 2009 the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned NOAA
Fisheries to list 83 species of reef-building corals. The agency
determined 82 of those species merited further consideration
for listing and convened seven expert federal scientists
to evaluate the status of each species, reviewing threats,
vulnerability and risk of extinction. Additionally, a management
group evaluated existing regulations and conservation actions
that provide protection for these corals. In December 2012,
NOAA Fisheries proposed listing 66 of those species under the
ESA. A final determination is due in December 2013.
Threats
Two broad categories that encompass the most severe
problems reefs face are greenhouse gases and local threats.
In 2010 the experts assembled by NOAA Fisheries identified
ocean warming, disease and ocean acidification as the most
influential risks to extinction of coral species by the year
2100. They also identified several local threats that are
common to coral populations in many different places. Of
these, sedimentation, nutrient enrichment and overfishing
were considered of medium risk for driving corals to
extinction by 2100. Other threats such as collection and
trade, physical damage and outbreaks of invasive species or
B y C . M a r k E a k i n , P h . D . , a n d C h e l s e y N . Y o u n g
p h o t o s b y s t e p h e n f r i n k
Greater Protection
for Reef Corals