How to Preserve Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are threatened by climate change, as well as by damage caused by boats, divers, hurricanes and oil spills. The key to preserving coral reefs is to mitigate the threats so corals have time to recover. Conservationists have established coral nurseries in the Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands to grow and transplant coral seedlings as part of the effort to preserve and expand existing colonies. Their efforts to restore and expand existing coral colonies help to preserve the genetic diversity necessary for each species of coral to interbreed.

Things You'll Need

  • Concrete blocks
  • Rebar
  • Zip ties
  • Wire cutters
  • All-fix brand epoxy
  • Plaster
  • Dixie cups (for plaster molds)
  • Toothbrushes
  • Boat
  • Scuba-diving gear
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Instructions

  1. Individual Actions

    • 1

      Visit coral reefs responsibly. Do not touch a coral reef or anchor your boat to it while diving or snorkeling. Dispose of your trash properly, being careful not to leave fishing lines or nets on the beach or in the water.

    • 2

      Volunteer for a coral reef cleanup. Patronize and support businesses near the coral reef that participate in coral reef ecosystem management efforts.

    • 3

      Reduce your own carbon emissions. Use only organic fertilizers so they don't end up polluting the water system and damaging coral reefs. Conserve water to prevent excess wastewater from ending up in the oceans. A temperature change of less than two degrees bleaches and almost kills coral as it expels its algae fuel sources. During the 1900s, bleaching became more widespread and more frequent as the average surface temperature of the planet's oceans increased by half a degree.

    • 4

      Call on your elected representatives to take action to protect coral reefs. Share tips with your friends and encourage them to get involved as well. As greater concentrations of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolve into the oceans, seawater becomes more acidic. Corals have less of the carbonate they need to build their skeletons. Research shows that when carbon dioxide reaches atmospheric concentrations of 550 ppm, reefs begin to dissolve. At current rates, we will reach this concentration by the year 2050. Support restoration efforts such as coral nurseries.

    Coral Nurseries

    • 5

      Anchor concrete blocks to the ocean floor. Pound rebar into the ocean floor and use zip ties to secure the rebar. Pour plaster into Dixie cups or a similar size and shape mold to make pedestals for coral seedlings.

    • 6

      Clip a small fragment from a healthy coral specimen. The fragment should be about one to two inches long. Use epoxy to glue the coral fragment to the pedestal. Affix the pedestal to the concrete block.

    • 7

      Monitor the growth of the coral fragments several times per year. Brush off algae with a toothbrush so it does not smother and overtake the young coral. Re-attach zip ties or rebar that have come loose.

    • 8

      When the coral stem has grown in size and branched out, transplant it to a reef outside the nursery. Leave the coral attached to the pedestal and fasten to the surface below with epoxy.