Endangered Coral Reef Animals

About Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs are believed to be one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. It is home to a number of species of endangered animals. Both, the natural calamities and man-made threats have endangered coral reef animals.

Coral Reefs are a significant source of income, and provide employment through tourism and marine recreation. It is an important source of food to people with low-income in coastal areas. Moreover, it provides countless other benefits to the human beings, which includes unique chemicals with medicinal properties.

Causes of endangerment of Coral Reef animals

Coral Reefs around the world are rapidly being degraded. They are facing natural threats in the form of fluctuations in the sea temperature, salinity levels, and abundance of predators. However, man-made threats have contributed more than the natural threats. The human activities in the form of coastal development, over-fishing, and water pollution caused with the introduction of sewage fertilizer and sediment have together contributed in the endangerment of the coral reef animals.

Trade in reef species has added to the problem of endangered coral reef animals. Fishermen are using cyanide, one of the most toxic poisons known to man, to catch live fish. They use sodium-cyanide to trap live fish, which are sold in luxury live fish market in Asia, or to the private aquarium owners.

Cyanide, in addition to trapping fish, also destroys their natural habitat. Coral polyps, the symbiotic algae, and other small organisms necessary for healthy reefs are killed with the effect of cyanide. Cyanide fishing has caused mass destruction to coral reefs in Indonesia and the Philippines, and is spreading fast to other parts of Asia. Some anglers cause destruction to reefs as they, in search of fish, rip the coral reefs apart with crowbars.

Moreover, corals and many endangered coral reef animals are exported from reef areas to be sold as marine souvenirs or for private aquariums. The list includes giant clams, sea horses, starfish, shells, puffer fish, sea urchins, sea fans, sponges, and "live rock" covered with tropical barnacles or other crustaceans.

The Great Barrier Reef in eastern coast of Australia has the world's largest population of endangered coral reef animals. Blue Whale, the largest sea mammal, along with six of the world's seven endangered species of Sea Turtle is found to visit this area. The dugong, also known as sea cow, is another endangered animal found in this area. They have a slow breeding rate, which has created problems to increase the numbers of this endangered animal.

Conservation of endangered Coral Reef animals

Although there are laws for the protection of endangered coral animals, they are not implemented effectively. More comprehensive and effective regulations are required to keep a check on the trade of endangered coral reef animals. Restrictions should be imposed on the import of corals to the United States, or it should be restricted to scientific research and public aquariums.

Tourism should also be regulated in the region although it is not a serious threat. Fast moving boats can strike and cause damages to the coral animals as they come to the water surface.