Coral Reef Armageddon Watch 2015

2015 is poised to be the worst coral bleaching event in recent memory.

The red bits on this NOAA 2015 map are warming waters, the really red bits are where the trouble for coral reefs begin.

Healthy reefs support local and global economies. Through the tourism industry and fisheries, coral reefs generate billions of dollars and millions of jobs in more than 100 countries around the world.

Studies show that on average, countries with coral reef industries derive more than half of their gross national product from them. A good example can be found in Bonaire, a small Caribbean island. Bonaire earns about USD $23 million annually from coral reef activities, yet managing its marine park costs less than $1 million per year (Talbot F., and C. Wilkinson, 2001, Coral Reefs, Mangroves and Seagrasses: A Sourcebook for Managers).

The variety of marine life and protected beaches supported by coral reefs provide an inviting setting for sightseers, sunbathers, snorkelers, and scuba divers and huge economic benefits to communities. A study conducted in 2002 estimated the value of coral reefs at $10 billion, with direct economic benefits of $360 million per year (Cesar and van Beukering, 2004). For residents of coral reef areas who depend on income from tourism, reef destruction creates a significant loss of employment in the tourism, marine recreation, and sport fishing industries.

Warmer water temperatures can result in coral bleaching. When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead.

Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality. In 2005, the U.S. lost half of its coral reefs in the Caribbean in one year due to a massive bleaching event.

Most of those regions have failed to recover completely.

The warm waters centered around the northern Antilles near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico expanded southward. Comparison of satellite data from the previous 20 years confirmed that thermal stress from the 2005 event was greater than the previous 20 years combined.

Over in Fiji at Beqa Adventure Divers a small but dedicated team is monitoring the health of their reefs and sanctuary region. BAD has been at the forefront a private marine conservation partnerships in the region for the past decade with an impressive list of accomplishments and accolades to their credit.

We will be following their small piece of Pacific closely for first person reports as the waters warm.