Protecting Resilient Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate

The third and longest global coral bleaching event on record started in 2014 and continues to damage reefs around the globe. While it's true coral reef ecosystems have been knocked down, they have certainly not been knocked out. It is not too late to conserve coral reef ecosystems.

Covering only one percent of the planet, they are the home to 25 percent of marine species and upwards of 4 billion people rely on coral reefs for the fish and shellfish they eat. They provide billions of dollars in other economic and environmental services, such coastal protection, tourism and pharmaceuticals.

NOAA protects both deep and shallow corals in the Atlantic and Pacific. Last year alone saw the expansion of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument—more than doubling in size—and the creation of Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.

Coral reefs face serious threats, mainly from the effects of overfishing, pollution from the land, and the twin insults of global climate change—warming and increasingly acidic ocean waters—making this undoubtedly the greatest global threat. However, NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program has boots on the ground and fins in the water to help communities manage coral reef ecosystems for resilience.

https://phys.org/news/2016-11-resilient-coral-reefs-climate.html

Lori

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