A Photo Essay on Coral Reef Restoration Efforts in Florida » Yale Climate Connections
Over the past 40 years, nearly 90% of the living coral on the reefs of the Florida Keys has been lost. Worldwide, the cover of tropical coral reefs has declined by 30% to 50% since the 1980s, as climate change increases temperatures, sea levels and ocean acidity. The authors of a recent study predict catastrophic effects on coral reefs worldwide from a 1.5°C rise above pre-industrial levels.
We will miss these corals. These ecosystems cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, but they feed and support more than a quarter of all marine fish species, as well as many other marine animals.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), coral reefs directly support more than 500 million people, providing food, coastal protection and livelihoods from fishing and tourism. Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla., reports that the reefs that stretch approximately 350 miles between Dry Tortugas and St. Lucie Inlet contribute $8 billion to the state’s economy through tourism, fishing and protection against violent storms. Mote scientists join experts around the world to try and restore these ecosystems. One such project, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s “Mission: Iconic Reefs,” aims to restore seven reefs, one of the largest such efforts in the world. Organizations doing in-water restoration work for the first phase of the project include Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), Mote and Reef Renewal.
Photo documentary
Florida’s reefs also face a number of other threats, including disease outbreaks and storms, compounded by climate change. Indeed, coral reefs globally are one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth.
Melissa Gaskill is an Austin-based science writer who frequently covers climate change and ocean issues. Photos: Courtesy of Brandon Cole Marine Photography.
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