Protect coral reefs, say scientists
July 9th, 2012 - 12:36 pm ICT by IANSSydney, July 9 (IANS) Top marine scientists have sounded an alarm over the plight of coral reefs worldwide and the livelihood of millions of people dependent on them.
In an unprecedented move, more than 2,000 of the world’s leading marine researchers released in Cairns, Australia, their Consensus Statement on Climate Change and Coral Reefs. They are attending the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Australia.
Terry Hughes, convener of the symposium and director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, said: “When it comes to coral reefs, prevention is better than cure. If we look after the Great Barrier Reef better than we do now, it will continue to support a vibrant tourism industry into the future.”
“Unfortunately, the rush to get as much fossil fuel out of the ground as quickly as possible before the transition to alternative sources of energy occurs, has pushed environmental concerns far into the background,” Hughes was quoted as saying in an ARC Centre statement.
“Australia needs to improve governance of the Great Barrier Reef, particularly coastal development and runoff, to avoid it being inscribed by UNESCO on the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger.
“While there has been much progress in establishing marine reserves around the coastline of Australia, marine parks do not prevent pollution from the land, or lessen the impact of shipping and port developments, or reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases,” said Hughes.
Among the recommendations are rebuilding fish stocks to restore key ecosystem functions; reducing runoff and pollutants from the land; reducing destruction of mangrove, sea-grass and coral reef habitats; protecting key eco-systems by establishing marine protected areas; rebuilding populations of mega fauna such as dugongs (marine mammal) and turtles.
- Coral reefs will survive ravages of warming: Scientists - Apr 17, 2012
- Indo-Pacific corals more resilient than Caribbean twins - Jul 13, 2012
- World-class protection boosts Australia's Great Barrier Reef - Feb 23, 2010
- Warming climate damaging reefs, impacting fish - Jul 11, 2012
- Seagrass can help mitigate climate change - May 23, 2012
- Gujarat coral reefs a virtual gold mine - Mar 27, 2011
- Radical methods needed to save oceans, say experts - Aug 21, 2012
- More warm, acidic oceans will require greater reef care - Feb 15, 2011
- Australia's Great Barrier Reef faces diseased future - Sep 02, 2009
- 75 percent of world's coral reefs under threat: report - Feb 24, 2011
- Parrotfish play vital role in preserving coral reefs - Dec 12, 2011
- 10 coral species may vanish within 50 years - Jan 12, 2011
- Overgrown algae smothering coral reef - Sep 20, 2012
- New approach to ease the oceans from overfishing, pollution and human impact - Sep 15, 2010
- Marine life faces large-scale extinction risk - Aug 22, 2012
Tags: cairns australia, consensus statement, coral reef symposium, coral reefs, ecosystem functions, fish stocks, great barrier reef, greenhouse gases, international coral reef, marine mammal, marine protected areas, marine researchers, marine scientists, mega fauna, port developments, prevention is better than cure, reef habitats, reef studies, sea grass, world heritage sites