Reefs
Table of Contents
Intro
Major Threats
Reefs in peril: Coral reef degradation "Coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world and also the most vulnerable. Threats to coral reefs fall into two principal categories: climate change-induced factors that threaten reefs on a global scale and local factors that cause damage within a more limited geographical area. In 2011, a study by the World Resources Institute reported that 75 percent of coral reefs worldwide were at risk from global and local threats, with a quarter of reefs already damaged beyond repair. Since then, the degradation of coral reefs has continued unabated on a global scale."
The following are not listed in any particular order.
Acid Rain from livestock farming and industrial practices.
Fishing & Aquaculture
Bottom Trawling
Cyanide Fishing is a common practice used to fuel the exotic pet trade, and is toxic both to the coral as well as the fish. Many of whom die in transit or shortly after reaching their destinations.
Dynamite Fishing
Ghost Nets harbor dangerous bacteria which spread disease to coral which are easily entangled and smothered by old fishing gear.
Aquaculture waste: fish feces, antibiotics and other medications or poisons harm all aquatic life, but in particular fecal waste has been found to smother reefs which (unlike mobile lifeforms) can't swim, crawl, or float out of harms way.
Slaughterhouse/Meat Processor Waste pipes of blood and other disease-contaminated waste is dumped into waterways and oceans.
Sewage
Livestock Manure
Human & Pet Sewage
Waste Including Sewage From Ships Cruise companies pay million in fines, which they consider the price of doing business.
Invasive Species these can displace species, over eat and cause trophic cascade, bring disease, etc.
Warming Ocean Temperatures cause bleaching
Sedimentation
Damage from Diving & Tourism
Oil & Chemical Spills
Coral Disease
Algae Blooms
Plastic & Other Marine Debris
Ocean Acidification
Plastic Pollution
Commercial Fishing
Aquaculture
Invasive Species
Types of Reef
There are several types of reef including ocean types and fresh water.
Salt Water Reefs
Though reefs are usually associated with salinity, scientists recently discovered a reef at the mouth of the Amazon River where plumes of fresh water meet the ocean.
Click the Ocean Reefs button to learn more about ocean reefs, what threatens them, and how to help save them.
Oyster Reefs
These have decreased rapidly worldwide, but some organizations have found clever ways to help bring them back.
Not only do they improve water quality, sequester carbon, and boost biodiversity, but they can also help protect shorelines from flooding or even help restore them.
Click the Oyster Reefs button to learn more, including where to recycle oyster shells, where to volunteer, or even how to start your own rewilding projects.
Microbialites
In lakes there are also a lesser-known type known as microbialite, or freshwater reefs.
Click the Lake Reefs button to learn more about these rare reefs and artificial reefs.
Programs & Projects
North America
USA
Louisiana
Louisiana Artificial Reef Program "includes planning documents and reef locations"
Organizations
Europe
OSPAR "is the mechanism by which 15 Governments & the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.
OSPAR started in 1972 with the Oslo Convention against dumping and was broadened to cover land-based sources of marine pollution and the offshore industry by the Paris Convention of 1974. These two conventions were unified, up-dated and extended by the 1992 OSPAR Convention. The new annex on biodiversity and ecosystems was adopted in 1998 to cover non-polluting human activities that can adversely affect the sea.
The fifteen Governments are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
OSPAR is so named because of the original Oslo and Paris Conventions ("OS" for Oslo and "PAR" for Paris)."
North America
USA
NEMESIS "Welcome to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's National Estuarine and Marine Exotic Species Information System (NEMESIS). Here you will find information on marine and estuarine invertebrates and algae introduced to the United States."
New York
Billion Oyster Project "We're restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives"
Maps
North America
USA
Florida
South America
Bonaire
Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire Sites (Interactive) "Over the past 30 years coral reefs have faced a major decline. Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire's mission is to protect and restore coral reefs in Bonaire by developing new and innovative ways to restore reefs that are supported by research collaborations and shared worldwide, training, engaging, and inspiring the community locally and internationally through volunteering, educational events, and outreach, and demonstrating that through community efforts there is still hope for coral reefs. Right now more than 15,000 coral fragments are growing in the nurseries in Bonaire and more than 42,000 have been already outplanted on the reef."
Grants & Funding
International
Coral Restoration Foundation: Scholarships & Grants (some resources listed here are available for people on certain continents, while others are for people from specific states)"There are many financial resources available for those hoping to hop into a marine-related field. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are given out every year through scholarships and funding opportunities to those wanting to advance their SCUBA certification, environmental educational, or marine-based career.
Explore these funding opportunities by category.
North America
Coral Reef Conservation Financial Assistance Program "provides financial awards (grants and cooperative agreements) to support conservation projects and scientific studies that benefit coral reef management across seven U.S. states and territories, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Each year, we strive to award at least $8 million in grants and cooperative agreements, which are matched by nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, regional fishery management councils, commercial entities, community groups, and state and territorial natural resource management agencies. All projects focus on the reduction of primary threats to coral reefs—global climate change, land-based sources of pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices— and coral reef restoration as outlined in the Coral Reef Conservation Program's Strategic Plan. Funded projects also focus on priority coral reef regions and watersheds."
Caribbean
Caribbean Biodiversity Fund "At the national level, partner National Conservation Trust Funds (NCTFs) lead the grantmaking process, implement projects and drive programs for the protection and preservation of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems within their countries."
USA
Florida
Florida Sea Grant "supports the work of scientists and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines from institutions across the state. Our competitive funding opportunities address the critical issues affecting our coastal resources and economy."
Oceana
Australia
Great Barrier Reef Foundation: Grants and Opportunities "Apply now for open grants with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation."