Conservation efforts

• Marine protected areas -

  • many countries are trying to protect their coral reefs by designating Marine Protected Areas or National Parks, for example the Great Barrier Reef National park in Australia
  • a range of management practices can be used to protect the reefs:
  • fixed mooring buoys can be installed so boats do not need to use their anchors
  • Divers, snorkelers and swimmers can be taught not to touch the coral or kick up sediment onto the coral
• marine protected areas -

  • Fishing may be controlled or banned with the establishment of No Take Zones . These may actually increase long-term catches as the protected breeding populations may produce more offspring that can move out and colonise other areas
  • sustainable development of ecotourism and fishing can ensure the local economy is protected
  • environmental protection in other areas can benefit coral reefs such as protecting mangroves and seagrass beds, controlling coil erosion, controlling pollution and controlling developments such as ports and tourist resorts
• Control of fishing -

  • fishing for some species that have been over-exploited may be banned so their populations can recover
  • the length of the fishing seasons being restricted
  • placing a minimum catchable size to prevent the capture of small fish so they have a chance to grow larger and breed
  • imposing a maximum catchable size to protect large individuals that are likely to produce many young
  • restrictions placed on damaging fishing methods such as dynamite fishing, trawling or fishing with nets with small mesh
  • No Take Zones where fishing is banned to allow larger population breeding adults
• Control of tourism -

  • recreational activities may be restricted to minimise the damage that may be caused:
  • turtle nesting beaches may be protected to reduce disturbance
  • spear fishing may be banned
  • permanent mooring buoys
  • collection of souvenirs banned
• Sustainable exploitation-

  • exploitation may be permitted but it may be restricted to ensure it is sustainable
  • for example in Belize the removal of soft coral sea fans is regulated bye CITES Appendix II
• Reef creation-

  • artificial reefs have been created from concrete structures such as 'reef balls' or by sinking structures that were made for other purposes such as old ships and oil rigs
  • in the Gulf of Mexico several old warships and over 400 old oil rigs have been used to create artificial reefs