The importance of corals in the ecological equilibrium remains a potent cause to protect this precious marine life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates more than 200 million people benefit from corals in terms of food, medicine, tourism, defense against storm surges, and coastal breakers against tsunamis, the need for coral protection is a top priority among the oceanic woes humankind is facing.
The silent screams of the ocean manifest the devastation of our corals. From Rising sea levels, temperature spikes, to ocean acidification, scientists are in a frantic search for coral protection. The United States Geological Study (USGS) declares that coral reefs cannot cope up with the rise of sea levels basing their studies on coral reef sites in the Virgin Islands and the Florida Keys. The area's erosion is so dramatic due to the rise of sea levels which is a cause of climate change.
One of the solutions for coral protection is to identify and cultivate stronger coral specimen which a group of Israeli researchers is aiming for as a solution to the problem. Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has also an answer to saving our corals. They pinpointed areas where corals can fight off climate change. The locations of the coral refuge are in Northern Mozambique and the Quirimbas Islands. These areas of refuge cultivate a good environment resistant to the effects of climate change.
The first vicinity for coral protection has potential variability to adapt to climate change and less effect on temperature spikes that harms them. The second refuge is deeper and cooler water with enough penetration of light for marine life to thrive and avoid heat stress, reports Science Daily.
WCS research shows another area for coral protection is connected to routes of shipping vessels. These areas are slightly fished due to the traffic of nautical navigation. When an area is thought to be abundant in fish, fisherfolks would want to capitalize with its abundance leading to overfishing. This is one of the causes of reef destruction - overfishing. This activity should be stopped immediately as it destroys coral reefs.
Tim McClanahan, WCS Senior Conservation Zoologist and lead author of the study, says that solutions to climate change preservation of these areas of refuge should immediately be done through strict compliance against overfishing by implementing gear restrictions and closure of specific areas from fishing for coral protection, reports Physics.Org.
Immediate action is needed to save our corals. The concept of coral protection is enjoined by leading marine conservationists, climate, and marine scientists to identify 50 marine sanctuaries while conservation experts formulate for an international directive on how to protect our corals.
