Coral reefs are crucial ecosystems that provide food, habitat, and protection for marine life. However, they face numerous threats, particularly coral bleaching, which makes them incredibly vulnerable to death and disease. This bleaching is caused by rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and local stressors like overfishing. The decline of coral reefs, especially in the Caribbean, has far-reaching consequences for marine biodiversity and human communities. Specifically, Caribbean reefs make up over 10% of the world's reefs and support over 1400 species of fish and marine mammals, making them critical to protect. They also support industries like fishing and tourism and protect coastal communities from storms. Urgent action is required to slow coral bleaching and protect these invaluable ecosystems for future generations.
Coral is formed by polyps that live in a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. These algae provide energy through photosynthesis in exchange for nutrients and shelter. Coral bleaching occurs when the coral’s polyps expel the algae that provide their color and energy. Without this special algae, coral is left without a food source, making it very vulnerable to disease and death. Over the past 50 years, the sea surface temperature has risen by almost 2°F (Journal of Climate, 2023). Increased temperatures kill corals by causing them to expel zooxanthellae, coral’s main food source. Increased temperatures also aid harmful algae blooms which can suffocate coral. Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean acidification has increased by 30%, reducing the availability of calcium carbonate, which slows the overall growth of coral reefs and irritates their polyps (NOAA, 2020). Additionally, over 60% of Caribbean reefs are threatened by overfishing, which disrupts food chains and allows algae to overgrow corals (WRI, 2011). The combination of all three can be lethal to coral reefs, quickly causing them to bleach and die.
These stressors on coral have a serious impact on reefs all around the world, especially the Caribbean. Coral reefs cover about 0.2% of the ocean floor yet support at least 25% of all marine life, highlighting how important they are to the oceans (UNEP, 2021). Unfortunately, hard coral cover, the percentage of live coral covering a reef, has declined by over 50% from 1970 to 2012 in the Caribbean (UNEP, 2014). A loss in coral cover means that coral is both dying and very slow to grow in that area. As coral reefs decline, they lose their ability to provide food and shelter for marine species. This habitat destruction has led to sharp declines in commercial fish populations, threatening both biodiversity and fisheries. For example, the Nassau grouper, a previously reliable commercial fish, is now considered commercially extinct in the Caribbean due to both overfishing and coral reef destruction (USVI TRCMP, 2017).
A decrease in biodiversity and habitat loss can have serious economic and social consequences for the people in the surrounding areas. From 2000 to 2019, fish production in the Caribbean dropped by 40%, from around 100,000 metric tons to 60,000 metric tons (CAF, 2021). The sharp decline in fish production threatens both job availability in the area and food availability. Local fisheries provide a significant percentage of food for local people in the region, especially in coastal and island communities. Alongside fisheries, tourism plays a large role in Caribbean economies. For example, tourism made up over 90% of Antigua and Barbuda’s GDP in 2022 (Lòpez, 2022). One of the main tourist attractions of Caribbean countries is their beautiful oceans and reefs which teem with life. As main tourist attractions deteriorate, the money they bring in will be depleted as well. Over 180,000 people in the Caribbean are employed in both sectors; coral bleaching puts all of their jobs at risk (Canari, 2020).
Coral reefs not only serve as a major source of income, they also act as natural barriers against storm surges, protecting coastal areas. Coral reefs absorb an average of 97% of a wave's energy, significantly reducing the flooding and erosion that storms can cause (Nature Communications, 2014). Coral reefs serve to protect both people and their property during storms or hurricanes. The long-term effects of coral bleaching are costly. As coral reefs degrade, the consequences escalate, leading to significant financial burdens, threats to jobs and food security, and increased vulnerability to storm damage.
With so many threats facing coral reefs, we must take action before it is too late. While tackling global warming requires collective efforts, everyone can contribute by reducing their carbon footprint, using reef-safe products when visiting coral reefs, and limiting plastic waste. But individual actions alone are not enough—we must demand stronger environmental policies and hold industries accountable for protecting our oceans. The future of coral reefs, marine biodiversity, and coastal communities depends on the choices we make today. If we do not act now, we risk losing one of the ocean’s most vital, and beautiful ecosystems forever.
Sources
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https://ecowatch.noaa.gov/regions/caribbean?
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https://www.wri.org/research/reefs-risk-revisited
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/status-and-trends-caribbean-coral-reefs-1970-2012
https://www.unep.org/resources/status-coral-reefs-world-2020
https://sites.google.com/site/usvitcrmp/research-highlights/commercially-important-fish?
https://www.caf.com/en/blog/blue-economy-opportunities-for-revival-in-the-caribbean/?
https://www.statista.com/statistics/789517/caribbean-direct-contribution-travel-tourism-gdp-country/
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms4794
