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12/09/2008
Research Paper Final Draft
Coral reefs take hundreds or thousands of years to form. They usually grow 5
millimeters per year. Most coral reefs around the world live up to five to ten thousand
years old. Coral reefs are made up of polyps, which are tiny animals that create limestone
skeletons using calcium seawater. And now what has taken centuries to build can be
Indonesia is known to be one of the most beautiful places in the world, recognized
for its enchanting “sea forests” or coral reefs. They are located all over the Bali islands
and the Coral Triangle (located from the central part of the Solomon Islands to the Indian
Ocean). Coral reefs are the home to many fish species and are among the most beautiful
things in the ocean. Unfortunately, coral reefs have been mismanaged in different ways.
Over the years coral reefs in Indonesia have been mismanaged due to global warming,
cyanide and blast fishing. These three major threats have damaged beyond what is
expected.
Dynamite fishing or “blast fishing” is a horrible mechanism to kill coral reefs.
Fishermen chose certain areas to kill fish and coral. The bomb weighs about 1kg and it
will kill 3-4m diameter of a coral reef. After the bomb has set off, fishermen will “use dip
nets” and catch their fish. Blast fishing has been a threat to coral reefs since the end of
WWII (TRACC). People thought it would be easier to catch fish since it is more fun than
regular fishing. Normally the fishermen will want to hunt the biggest fish, so they set the
bombs around the coral reefs. “Large blasted areas are slow to recover because corals
Cyanide fishing is an illegal form of fishing, because it’s used with a compound
chemical called cyanide. It was first used in the Philippines back in 1962 as part of an
international trading system. This method is preferred used since it is not noisy, and the
procedure is simple. The cyanide is crushed and then put into a water bottle. Then the
fisher can dive towards the fish and “squirt the toxic liquid into his face” ("Cyanide: an
easy but deadly way to catch fish”). This is why so many fishermen use it. The poison
works like a tranquilizer; it doesn’t kill the fish it just puts it to sleep. This method is
very practical since instead of spending the whole day fishing, with cyanide fishermen
can catch over 50 fish a day. How does this relate to coral reefs? Cyanide kills coral. Tons
of cyanide is poured in the ocean by local fishermen. Biologist Sam Mamauag of the
International Marinelife Alliance (IMA) says that “a square meter of reef is destroyed for
every live fish caught using cyanide” ("Cyanide: an easy but deadly way to catch fish”).
“Scientists estimate over 27 percent of the world's coral has been permanently lost. They
estimate that 30 percent will disappear over the next three decades” (Katyal, Sugita, and
Adhityani Arga). This issue is important because when coral reefs are in danger its not
because they die naturally, it’s because of human damaging the coral. Humans have to do
something big in order to help restore the coral that has been extinct. It’s only fair to
create new ways in order for this to stop happening. Within the next few decades
Researchers have found that more than half of the world’s coral reefs could die in
lessthan 25 years. Currently there are thirteen national parks around the world that are
occupied by coral reefs. They cover 284,300 square kilometers around the world. Global
warming is one of the causes to make this happen. The temperatures of the ocean in the
Coral Triangle are rising, making the coral reefs to increase its pollutants which are waste
materials that contaminate the ocean ecosystem. The warm water causes the reef to lose
its pigment, this makes the reef to become weak and quickly die. Just as the temperature
of the atmosphere affects the environment the temperature of the ocean water affects the
The increments of the ocean’s temperature coral reefs are beginning to decompose
as the years pass. This also means that habitants such as animals and plants that live in
the coral reefs are dying. Most of the animals that live in the coral reefs are in danger due
to the banishing of the coral reefs making the animals to become extinct. The sea animals
that inhabit the coral reefs are sponges, bivalve mollusks, and sipunculans. Also, the coral
reef’s extinction causes the big animals not to be able to eat. In certain areas the coral
reefs will disintegrate but in others the coral reef will try to form itself back again. And
the areas that are currently damaged by rising temperatures will never be reconstructed.
Global warming is not the only cause that is making the coral reefs to die. It is a
combination of different things, for instance silt from construction citeswhich prevent the
reef from getting enough sunlight and increases the amount of green algae that helps
cover the sunlight that the coral reef receives (CNN.com). Construction cites, waste
products and toxins from boat paints are factors to make the coral reefs die.
Since the temperatures of the ocean are rising, soon enough there will not be any
coral reefs left. It might not be too late to prevent, but what I think would be helpful
Mark Erdmann acclaimed “But runaway development and both dynamite and cyanide
fishing have imperiled many of Indonesia’s coral reefs, which provide the critical habitat
for fish and other reef animals” (Friedman). The solution to this problem would be
preservation. The plan is to create a system that will help create biodiversity in Indonesia.
People in Indonesia need to become unified and educated about the problem with coral
reefs. The more people Indonesia teaches, the more people will help prevent coral reefs
First they will need to make sure that the coral is being protected by law. In order
to fish in Indonesia, fishermen should only fish in areas where there is no coral near.
Hopefully there will be a facility where people can supervise what’s being fished and
who is breaking the law. This should help sustain the coral preservation and also look out
for any other threats to all marine life. Many organizations have already been taking care
of the coral reefs. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an
organization that has helped preserve coral reefs. Hopefully, they can also help educate
more people about the mismanagement in Indonesia. I plan to send a letter to the
organization telling them that they need to build a foundation with the people of
Indonesia to help preserve coral reefs. This is not an easy project, but it is possible to
make something happen. People need to come together and spread the word to their
community so that change is made. Indonesia’s coral reefs should be seen as part of the
breathtaking wonders of the world. We are losing one of the most precious ecosystems.
Citations
Amalie, Charlotte. “Dire Prediction for World’s Coral Reefs.” CNN.com October 25,
<http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/10/25/coral.threat.ap/index.html.>
Reef Biosphere." Exploring the Enviroment Coral Reefs. 28 Apr. 2005. 08 Dec. 2008
<http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/coralreef/crbio.html>.
"Cyanide: an easy but deadly way to catch fish." WWF. 29 Jan. 2003. 08 Dec. 2008
<http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/features/index.cfm?unewsid=5563>.
Friedman, Thomas L. "Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—and
How It Can Renew America." Delta Sky. Sept. 2008. 07 Dec. 2008
<http://www.delta-sky.com/2008_10/thought-leader-friedman-hot-flat-
crowded.php>.
<http://www.reuters.com/article/latestcrisis/idusjak32235>.
Moore, Michael D. "Blast Fishing and Coral Reef Damage." EcoReefs. 12 Apr. 2004. 08
<http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2001/11/111201_reefs.jhtml>.