Softpedia >News >Green
Softpedia Homepage   

2,600 Marine Scientists Push for Immediate Coral Reefs Preservation

Specialists warn that declining coral reef will also impact on tourism and fishing

Jul 9, 2012 12:36 GMT  ·  By
2,600 marine researchers make a case for safeguarding coral reefs
   2,600 marine researchers make a case for safeguarding coral reefs

This year's International Coral Reef Symposium (9-13 July) brought together countless marine biologists and zoologists, most of whom agree on the following pressing issue: unless something is soon done to safeguard coral reefs worldwide, global economy might also end up being affected.

Thus, about 2,600 top specialists is marine wildlife pointed their fingers at climate change as the leading cause of our ocean's wildlife steadily declining.

As one can easily guess, although carefully concealed in the background of global warming and ocean acidification, the ever-increasing levels of pollution for which human society alone is to blame also contributes to the destruction of marine ecosystems.

Moreover, overfishing seems to damage our seas more than we can imagine.

Raw Story informs us that, according to official reports, 75-85% of Caribbean coral reefs have been destroyed throughout the past 35 years alone, and Australia's Great Coral Reef is now 50% of what it used to be.

Scientists also explain that, apart from housing countless fish species, coral reefs also act as natural barriers and keep land areas safe from potentially devastating waves.

Moreover, they play a very important part for the tourism industry in several parts of the world.

This means that, should coral reefs disappear, issues having to do with financial prosperity and public safety might soon arise.

During this international symposium, marine researcher Terry Hughes wished to make it as clear as possible that “There is a window of opportunity for the world to act on climate change, but its closing rapidly.”

Jeremy Jackson, one other specialist present at this meeting, also argued in a very abrupt manner, “The future of coral reefs isn't a marine version of tree-hugging, but a central problem for humanity.”

Although the International Coral Reef Symposium only meets once every four years, it seems to us that the ideas they bring forth are valid ones and noteworthy, especially seeing how all changes in terms of marine biodiversity eventually translate into new problems humanity has to face.