What is Coral ?
Corals are tiny marine animals called polyps that live in colonies and form the building blocks of coral reefs. Each polyp secretes calcium carbonate to build a hard, protective skeleton, which forms the structure of coral reefs. These reefs provide habitat, food, and shelter for a diverse range of marine life. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae—microscopic algae that live inside their tissues. The algae perform photosynthesis, providing nutrients for the coral, while the coral provides the algae with a safe place to live.
Why Corals Are Being Destroyed ?
Coral reefs face numerous threats from both natural and human-induced activities:
A. Natural Disasters:
- Tropical cyclones and typhoons
- global warming
- Coral diseases
- Impact of trawl fishing
B. Human Activities:
- Anchoring boats directly on reefs
- Dynamite fishing
- Coral harvesting for trade or construction
- Trash, microplastics, and land-based pollution
- Sedimentation from coastal development
- Overfishing and coral mining
How to Protect and Maintain Corals
Coral conservation requires a combination of scientific, community-based, and personal efforts:
- Reduce Pollution: Recycle, reduce plastic use, and avoid littering.
- Conserve Water: Minimize water waste to reduce polluted runoff.
- Spread Awareness: Educate others about the importance of coral reefs.
- Support Sustainable Choices: Choose eco-friendly products and sustainable seafood.
- Respect Marine Life: Avoid touching or damaging corals while diving or snorkeling.
- Coral Nurseries: Grow and transplant corals to restore degraded reefs.
- Community Involvement: Engage local communities in coral protection and education.
- Establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): To ensure regulated and sustainable marine resource use.
How to Protect and Maintain Corals
Coral conservation requires a combination of scientific, community-based, and personal efforts:
Coral Nurseries
Coral nurseries are specially designed underwater areas where fragments of corals are grown under ideal conditions before being transplanted back onto degraded reef areas. The process includes collecting healthy coral fragments, attaching them to nursery structures, monitoring their growth, and then transplanting them to reef sites. Benefits of coral nurseries include restoring reef habitats, conserving endangered species, promoting biodiversity, and increasing reef resilience to climate change.
