13.7 Billion Years: Coral Reefs: Here Now, Gone Tomorrow?

Friday, April 3, 2009

Coral Reefs: Here Now, Gone Tomorrow?

This summer, scientists will gather to discuss the health of the world's coral reefs. Last year's alarming extinction report should give them plenty to talk about

Hundreds of millions of people around the world rely on coral reef ecosystems for food, protection and their very livelihood. Billions of fish and other animals call them home. They likely contain the ingredients for thousands of medicines yet to be discovered. Their annual value has been estimated at around $300 billion.

But they are under siege, battered by overfishing, pollution, coastal development and ocean acidification caused by increased amounts of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. According to a report last year, one-third of the planet's reef-building coral species face extinction. It was the first global reef extinction study, involving 39 scientists.

In July, marine biologists, oceanographers and reef specialists will be gathering in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the 5-day quadrennial International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), the world's major coral reef science meeting -- and the first since the 2008 extinction study. According to the symposium Web site, the ICRS is "devoted to the best reef science available, with the purpose of sharing scientific findings with government agencies, resource management and non-government organizations throughout the world."

"I believe that we’re morally obligated to sustain our resources," said Capt. Philip G. Renaud, USN (Ret.), who will lead next year's Global Reef Expedition, a three-year circumnavigation of the globe to survey the world's coral reefs. "It’s called inter-generational equity – ensuring that our offspring enjoy the same or better quality of life than we have."

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