Coral Reefs of Florida to Disappear by 2030 Due to Climate Change

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states now that the coral reefs off of Florida’s southern coast will disappear by 2030 due to climate change – 12 years earlier than previously thought. 

Even though Florida lawmakers attempted to expunge the terms “climate change” and “global warming” from the lexicon of the legislative agenda, they have not eradicated the fact that there is a dire threat facing the state’s coral reefs. 

According to the NOAA’s new study, scientists have found that by 2030, the ocean water around Florida will reach a temperature warm enough to kill off massive underwater mountains of coral reefs, endangering the coastline and scores of different species of ocean-dwelling creatures.

The NOAA scientists explained that coral bleaching will cause the demise of the reefs when oceans are warmed to uninhabitable temperatures due to climate change. The is warming will cause the algae that inhabits the area around coral reefs to vacate the area in search of better conditions, which make the coral lose its vibrant, beautiful colors. Thus, leaving the coral a deadening white hue. Coral bleaching has occurred at an ever-increasing rate throughout the last few decades, becoming more chronic in the last 20 years. A previous study was done to assess the health of coral reefs located in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, which were found to be in a status that will leave them bleaching in the near future.

Increasing ocean temperatures in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico will only aggravate the troubles Florida is facing in their coastal ecosystems. Frank Wasson, president of Spree Expeditions, stated the rising temperatures are very important, though they become more acute when knowing coral bleaching is going to be a serious factor in the future. Scientists state by mid-century, possibly even sooner, coral bleaching could affect the areas of Biscayne Bay, Dry Tortugas National Park, and the entirety Florida Keys. 

These are prime tourist destination areas that may suffer a decline in the years leading up to 2030 in visits when the coral reef become less vibrant than they are today, populated with a wide array of marine life and crystal clear waters, due to climate change.

Although it is one of the most vulnerable areas for rising sea levels and ocean temperatures, Florida citizens still remain on opposite sides of the political aisle when it comes to the debate on climate change. For example, back in March, Governor Rick Scott, a Republican, attempted to erase the terms “climate change” and “global warming” from being used by the Florida Department of Environmental Agency (FDEA) due to their association with artificial (man-made) global warming. 

Although the charge was not a formal eradication of the terms, those at the FDEA stated they were told to halt all rhetoric referring to the terms in official reports and at conferences. The ban sparked mass outrage among activists and scientists who deal with climate change across the county. They stated the political attitudes ignored a great scientific consensus.

Climate change does not only affect the coral reefs off the coast of Florida, but in many other areas around the world. Studies have shown that marine ecosystems in the Indian Ocean and western South Pacific waters have faced rising levels of coral bleaching outbreaks as temperatures become warmer. The NOAA stated climate change and the impacts it causes are the most dangerous threats to the world’s coral reefs and the corals maybe a thing of the past as of 2030.

Fish life key to healthy reefs - Let's build artificial reef habitat

A recent study has ascertained that robust fish life is key to healthy reefs. One strategy to bringing regional fish life back is providing them with new habitat and fishing restricted zones.

At Reef Worlds we have been championing the concept of Habitat Tourism reefs for resort hotels around the globe.

We could, with a little imagination, rehabilitate 1.5 million miles of coastlines with the help of mainstream resort hotel management companies.

Fish are the key ingredients in a new recipe to diagnose and restore degraded coral reef ecosystems, according to scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, WCS, James Cook University, and other organizations in a new study in the journal Nature.

For overfished coral reef systems, restoring fish populations that perform key roles will in turn restore ecological functions critical to recovery. For moderately or lightly fished reefs, the recipe requires knowing which fish to catch, how many, and which to leave behind.

The authors assessed fish biomass and functional groups from more than 800 coral reefs worldwide and used them to estimate recovery periods for both lightly fished and overfished reefs. The scientists speculate that maintaining and restoring fish populations and the functions they provide can increase the resilience of reefs to large-scale threats such as climate change.

The coral reefs of the world are in crisis, endangered by a number of coastal threats such as overfishing, pollution, and coastal development as well as global threats such as climate change. According to the World Resources Institute, some 75 percent of the world’s coral reefs are now threatened and more than 20 percent have disappeared since climate and fishing disturbances have accelerated in the past 30 years. At the same time, only 27 percent of the world’s coral reefs are contained within marine protected areas.

"By studying remote and marine protected areas, we were able to estimate how much fish there would be on coral reefs without fishing, as well as how long it should take newly protected areas to recover,” said M. Aaron MacNeil, Senior Research Scientist for the Australian Institute of Marine Science and lead author on the study. “This is important because we can now gauge the impact reef fisheries have had historically and make informed management decisions that include time frames for recovery.”

“The methods used to estimate reef health in this study are simple enough that most fishers and managers can take the weight and pulse of their reef and keep it in the healthy range,” said Tim McClanahan, WCS Senior Conservationist and a co-author on the study. “Fishers and managers now have the ability to map out a plan for recovery of reef health that will give them the best chance to adapt to climate change.”

Coral reef experts agree that fishing is a primary driver in the degradation of reef function, which in turn has generated growing interest in finding fisheries management solutions to support reef resilience. Removing too many herbivorous and predatory fish species deprives coral reefs of critical ecosystem functions and the capacity to respond effectively to other disturbances. Knowing the right amount to leave behind can help local fisheries set clear limits to how many fish can be taken without threatening the ecosystem they rely on.

In response to this need, the study authors have created the first empirical estimate of coral reef fisheries recovery potential using data from 832 coral reefs in 64 locations around the world. The analysis included marine reserves and fishing closures as a control for estimating healthy fish biomass along with numerous sites along a spectrum of fishing intensity, from heavily fished reefs in the Caribbean to locations with low fishing rates and high fish “biomass” such as the Easter Islands. Despite the breadth of the data, some simple and consistent numbers emerged from the study.

Some of the key metrics uncovered in the study:

• According to the analysis, a coral reef with no fishing averages 1,000 kilograms per hectare of fish biomass. 

• The fish biomass threshold for a collapsed reef—overfished to the point of nearly total ecosystem failure—is 100 kilograms per hectare. 

• The most degraded reefs lack browsers (rudderfish, parrotfish, and surgeonfish), scraper/excavators (parrotfish), grazers (rabbitfish, damselfish), and planktivores (fusiliers), so the first steps in reef recovery depends on allowing these species and the services they provide to return. 

• Coral reefs that maintained 500 kilograms of fish biomass per hectare (about 50 percent of an average reef’s carrying capacity) were found to maintain ecological functions while sustaining local fisheries, providing fishers and marine managers with a critical target. 

• The authors found that 83 percent of the 832 reefs surveyed contained less than the 500 kilogram fish biomass threshold needed to maintain ecological integrity and stave off decline.

• The models generated time estimates needed for both unregulated and partially regulated coral reef fisheries to recovery; a moderately fished coral reef system can recover within approximately 35 years on average, while the most depleted ecosystems may take as long as 59 years with adequate protection.

The study also highlights the benefits of alternative fisheries restrictions, including bans on specific fishing gear such as small-mesh nets and restrictions on herbivorous species. Approximately 64 percent of coral reefs with fishing regulations (including bans on specific fishing gear such as small-mesh nets and restrictions on fishing of herbivorous species) were found to maintain more than 50 percent of their potential fish biomass.

“Reef fish play a range of important roles in the functioning of coral reef ecosystems, for example by grazing algae and controlling coral-eating invertebrates, that help to maintain the ecosystem as a whole,” said coauthor Nick Graham of James Cook University. “By linking fisheries to ecology, we can now make informed statements about ecosystem function at a given level of fish biomass.”

“The finding that gear restrictions, species selection or local customs can also contribute to fish population recovery is compelling. It demonstrates that managers can use a range of different management strategies in areas where it may not be culturally feasible to establish permanent marine reserves,” said coauthor Stacy Jupiter, WCS Melanesia Program Director. “Having a portfolio of management options provides flexibility to respond to local social and economic contexts. However, only completely closed no-take marine reserves successfully returned large predatory fish to the ecosystem."

This study was generously supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

The authors of the paper titled “Recovery potential of the world’s coral reef fishes” are: M. Aaron MacNeil of the Australian Institute of Marine Science; Nicholas A.J. Graham and Joshua E. Cinner of James Cook University; Shaun K. Wilson of the Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife; Ivor D. Williams of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Joseph Maina of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Newcastle University; Steven Newman of Newcastle University; Alan M. Friedlander of the University of Hawaii; Stacy Jupiter of the Wildlife Conservation Society; Nicholas V.C. Polunin of Newcastle University; and Tim R. McClanahan of the Wildlife Conservation Society. 

Florida's coral restoration to cost $250 million, when do you need the money by?

How to make money with the oceans and save it

A recent article in the LA Times caught our attention this week.

Apparently to save two species of coral in Florida the cost will be close to $250 million dollars - and take 400 years.

Cue the lamentations from the conservation crowd, "$250 million dollars!?"

Our response was more reasoned, "When do you need the money, oh, and when do you want to start?"

If one plugs in the typical way of doing coral conservation, $250 million dollars will take approximately 30 years to raise. The net effect will be diffused among 20-30 coral and oceans conservation groups and in the end little will be done with the exception of 70,000 lbs of shrimp being consumed at various fundraising events - that's a fair amount of shrimp.

Let's look at this same conservation fundraising issue through our lens.

1. Florida resort hotels account for the largest single use group of natural nearshore reef systems.

2. Less than 1% of Florida resort hotels have coral reef protection or mitigation programs.

3. The primary reason Florida resort hotels do not invest in their near shore reefs is "monetization." (They have not figured out a way to make money from their nearshore reefs directly.)

4. Art inspired artificial reefs not only rebuild habitat, they are also fully monetized from day one.

5. If 10% of Florida resort hotels adopted art inspired artificial reefs they would generate an estimated $470 million dollars in tourism revenues a year.

What could be done with $470 million dollars a year in additional tourism revenues?

A lot of coral restoration with a timeline of 10-20 years for project completion.

We need to start thinking differently in regards to oceans, conservation, and the way we create oceans solutions. Numbers like $250 million should spark ways of thinking that take us outside our comfort zones and into the places where innovation and inspiration give us answers.

Who's in?

Artificial Reef Tourism Paper - Fascinating!

Underwater LED art garden installation

Deploying artificial reefs on the seabed has become popular in diving management. This practice has been advocated as a means towards meeting both ecological concerns and recreational divers’ demands for diversification and themed experiences.

Nevertheless, the perceptions of the user community itself – the scuba divers – regarding the establishment of artificial reefs have received only limited attention in the literature.

Their views on critical issues concerning artificial reefs remain, as a result, fairly vague and speculative. The aim of the current paper is to bridge this gap in the literature by presenting the results of a study exploring divers’ attitudes and preferences with regards to the plan for a new artificial reef along the northern shore of the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel.

The findings indicate that the potential integration of this artificial reef was well perceived by the divers, regarding its contribution both to the diving experience and to the natural environment.

The divers also expressed their preference for large objects with a themed structure as artificial reefs, such as naval ships and airplanes, rather than more generic and amorphous forms, such as concrete blocks or pipes.

Overall, the study points toward the marketing potential of developing mass marine ecotourism through the deployment of artificial reefs at diving sites, as well as the prospect of promoting soft ecotourism in modified marine environments.

Complete paper here.

Tourists Could Be a Key to Healthier Coral Reefs - Study 2015

Annapolis, Md — Overfishing, coastal development, pollution, and climate change threaten more than the colorful fish and towering coral pillars of the Caribbean’s reef systems.

They also put an important part of the region’s $49 billion tourism industry in direct peril.

Tourism is the lifeblood of much of the Caribbean economy, and particularly of coastal tourism. Yet as human activities push coral reef health to decline, the snorkeling, SCUBA diving, and recreational fishing that attract visitors from all over the world will most certainly also suffer. In addition to the subsequent loss of tourism-generated income, coral reef decline could severely compromise the livelihoods, food security, and culture of impacted coastal and island communities.

A new study by David Gill, postdoctoral fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), quantifies how the loss of reef fish communities could impact the Caribbean’s tourism economy. It also accounts for how reef-related tourism could, in effect, help save itself by financing the conservation of reef ecosystems.

“Divers come to the Caribbean to see healthy, abundant fish life,” said Gill, “but coral habitat in the Caribbean has drastically declined in many parts of the region since the 1970s. We need to identify ways to protect both coral reefs and the region’s reef tourism economy—because the demise of one could mean the demise of the other, and the preservation of one could mean the preservation of the other.”

Gill interviewed more than 500 tourist SCUBA divers at seven sites throughout Barbados, Honduras’s Bay Islands, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. He found that tourists are less likely to pay for dives with fewer and/or smaller fish, but that they are willing to pay more for dives with more abundant and/or larger fish. The findings suggest that while declines in coral reef fish populations could result in significant economic loss for the region, improvements in fish populations could result in significant economic gains.

“If tourists perceive that the quality of reefs in the Caribbean is in decline, they may consider alternative dive locations in the Red Sea or Pacific, for example,” explained Gill. “To safeguard its economy, which is heavily dependent upon tourism dollars, the Caribbean needs to ensure the quality of its market product—the health of its coral reefs.”

For higher quality dive experiences, surveyed tourists indicated a willingness to pay above current dive prices—revealing a potential source of revenue that could be directed toward the conservation of reef fish resources, such as personnel salaries and equipment purchases for marine reserves.
Healthier reefs and more vibrant fish communities could encourage more tourist activity, and, accordingly, even more dollars for conservation.

A scientific paper based on the research, which Gill led while working on his doctoral degree at the University of the West Indies, was published online January 28 in the journal Ecological Economics. The paper’s co-authors include Peter Schuhmann, professor of economics at the University of North Carolina, and Hazel Oxenford, professor of marine ecology and fisheries at the University of the West Indies.

Tourist activity has itself contributed to the degradation of fragile coral reefs through, for example, direct physical damage from snorkelers and divers, sewage pollution from resorts, and the construction and operation of tourism-related infrastructure. But income generated by tourism activity could be used to mitigate those impacts and preserve reefs to natural and social benefit alike.

The researchers say that if even a small user fee per diver were instituted, the cumulative revenue would likely result in a large, untapped potential for financing the conservation of the Caribbean’s coral reefs. These monies could be used to monitor reefs and prevent actions that degrade reef resources.

One of the most surprising findings from the research, Gill said, was that across sites most of the tourists surveyed expressed a stronger preference for seeing large fish over large numbers of fish on dives. It’s an interesting and informative result, he says, because some parts of the Caribbean no longer have many of these larger fish, such as snappers and groupers, due to a history of overfishing that continues today.

The predicament of trying to balance anthropogenic pressures, such as increasing demands for seafood and tourist infrastructure, with marine ecosystem health underscores the need to establish fish sanctuaries and marine reserves that protect and restore communities of large fish. “Not only are these larger fish important for ecological reasons, but they’re important for the vitality of dive tourism and fishing livelihoods, as well,” said Gill.

But resource managers may be hard-pressed to garner funding for conservation efforts. The researchers point out that tourism dollars could easily offset some of the costs of conservation, without discouraging many tourists by initiating fees they’re unwilling to pay.

“The Caribbean has been feeling the effects of the global economic crisis these past few years, and environmental agencies find themselves competing against other agencies such as education and health for public funds,” said Gill. “This study demonstrates why conserving coral reefs should be an economic, as well as ecological, priority—and it provides policy makers with a possible roadmap for sustainably financing that conservation.”

Media Contact

Melissa Andreychek
mandreychek@sesync.org
(410) 919-4990
@SESYNC

The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, funded through an award to the University of Maryland from the National Science Foundation, is a research center dedicated to accelerating scientific discovery at the interface of human and ecological systems.

Four Shocking Coral Reef Facts About Ocean Resorts

5 star destinations without coral conservation programs

Coral reefs are in trouble. It's a hard fact.

Around the globe entire reef systems are under threat by a wide range of human vectors from land based runoff and marine pollution to development and ocean acidification.

Waterfront resort tourism represents the largest single use group of coral reefs in the world. An estimated 500+ million people travel to ocean resort destinations each year for sun, sand, and ocean adventures. 

These "rainforests of the sea" provide us with entire dynamic eco systems that support fish, tourism, and are the foundation of life in the oceans as we know it. Coral reefs are the cornerstone of $128 billion dollars in trade, tourism, and commerce.

90% of global waterfront resorts feature C and D class reef systems and their immediate future as productive ecological spaces is waning. With their loss goes a worldwide $3 billion dollar dive and snorkel tourism market, increasingly migrating further afield creating new development in regions still considered pristine.

The Maldives would be a prime example of this destination trend.

Shocking Resort Facts

1. 2% of four and five star hotel brands have a Coral Conservation Policy.

2. 1% of four and five star resort hotel brands have Coral Conservation Projects.

3. Under 1% of four and five star resort hotels have Coral Education/Outreach Projects.

4. Under 1% of four and five star resorts have a relationship with regional Coral NGOs.

For waterfront resort developments around the world the loss of coral reefs has been largely ignored for the past 50 years. Resort developers have abandoned any development beyond the high tide mark.

A review of typical waterfront resort development in 2015 and you'll find deep investments in land based infrastructure with intricate pools and water parks, gardens, and almost no engagement with the oceans beyond a few kayaks, a ubiquitous sail boat, and a dive program that has long been sub contracted out to a private company.

Resort Development Engagement

The creation of resort based reefs designed for both tourism and the environment serve a dual purpose. In addition to increased marine life populations, new dive sites lead to new economic opportunities. Reefs that gain larger, healthier populations due to the placement of artificial reefs, and the addition of aesthetically interesting structures are a magnet for snorkelers, recreational scuba divers, and photographers.

For many developing coastal nations, artificial reefs provide a cheap option to attract tourists in an otherwise poor market. The placement of artificial reefs leads to a long term profit, where tourists will continue to visit, and fisheries will see increased populations and production.

If placed close to shore, in an easily accessible area, increased and easily located fish populations attract tourists interested in fishing. An increased volume of tourists attracted by the reefs will create a demand for hotels, restaurants, and other markets associated with tourism.

It is time to reconsider resort engagement with the oceans in a fundamental way with Dynamic Reefs. 

Resort Based Tourism Reefs, Solutions to Near Shore Reef Loss?

Resorts need to "care for reefs"

Loss of reefs is a serious economic problem in the Caribbean where large populations depend on fishing and tourism.

Coal reefs provide a vital home for marine creatures, acting as a nursery for fish and a food resource for higher food chain predators such as sharks and whales.

 Over the last 50 years 80% of the corals have been lost due mainly coastal development and pollution. They now are also threatened by invasive species, global warming and the early effects of ocean acidification — it's the perfect storm.

Resort Based Dynamic Reefs

Art and sculpture reefs are a subset of manufactured reefs, and are usually constructed with the purpose of attracting tourists and creating new habitat. For the past 50 years resort developers and management companies have abandoned everything past the high tide mark assuming, incorrectly, that reefs and regional wildlife would continue to thrive.

They have not.

The creation of resort based reefs designed for both tourism and the environment serve a dual purpose. In addition to increased marine life populations, new dive sites lead to new economic opportunities. Reefs that gain larger, healthier populations due to the placement of artificial reefs, and the addition of aesthetically interesting structures are a magnet for snorkelers, recreational scuba divers, and photographers.

For many developing coastal nations, artificial reefs provide a cheap option to attract tourists in an otherwise poor market. The placement of artificial reefs leads to a long term profit, where tourists will continue to visit, and fisheries will see increased populations and production.

If placed close to shore, in an easily accessible area, increased and easily located fish populations attract tourists interested in fishing. An increased volume of tourists attracted by the reefs will create a demand for hotels, restaurants, and other markets associated with tourism.

It is time to reconsider resort engagement with the oceans in a fundamental way with Dynamic Reefs. 

Sudden Reef Loss, Tourism Disaster or Opportunity?

Resort tourism reefs in decline

Coral reefs are the building blocks of coastal marine life. Whether they protect developed areas from storm systems, create diverse fish stocks, or support a global multi-billion dollar tourism industry. The ever increasing loss of these complex systems is acutely felt, and 2015 will usher in the largest geographic loss of corals ever recorded according to climate scientists and marine researchers.

For waterfront resort developments around the world the loss of coral reefs has been largely ignored for the past 50 years. Resort developers have abandoned any development beyond the high tide mark. Look at any typical waterfront resort development in 2015 and you'll find deep investments in land based infrastructure with intricate pools and water parks, gardens, and almost no engagement with the oceans beyond a few kayaks, a ubiquitous sail boat, and a struggling dive program that has long been sub contracted out to a private company.

90% of global waterfront resorts feature C and D class reef systems and their immediate future as productive ecological spaces is waning. With their loss goes a worldwide $3 billion dollar dive and snorkel tourism market, increasingly migrating further afield creating new development in regions still considered pristine. The Maldives would be a prime example of this destination trend.

Artificial Reefs

Artificial reefs are a proven technology to rehabilitate regions suffering from coral loss and habitat degradation. The creation of artificial reefs at strategic locations offers new habitat opportunities attracting fish, coral, and tourism. Over a short time frame, submerged structures decrease demand on over-used and over-stressed natural coral reefs in tourism regions and allow for developers to create inexpensive water engagement spaces on their own resort footprint.

The State of Florida has one of the most robust and forward thinking AR programs on the planet and by any metric, both tourism and habitat rehabilitation, the decades long program has been wildly successful becoming a $253 million dollar cornerstone for Florida tourism.

Latest Trends, Innovation, Style

Uniquely designed "habitat tourism" site concept

The latest developments in artificial reefs have taken the concept of static and solely fish habitat based structures with little tourism interest and radically changed the paradigm. New technologies and artists are leading an Artificial Reef Revolution into a new phase called - Dynamic Reefs.

This artful design for underwater engagement comes from the need to create sustainability loops where the artificial reef becomes "the tourism attraction" and increased tourism revenues help add more habitat and sustain regional projects like Mangrove replanting.

Leading this revolution are a series of unique sites from Mexico to Dubai that are building for both the environment and tourism and the industry is taking notice along with green media, social media, and traditional media outlets.

The rapid global decline of coral reefs is having stunning ecological and economic consequences that will resonate over the next decade and beyond. Healthy coral ecosystems support local businesses and economies, as well as provide jobs through tourism and recreation.

Every year, millions of scuba divers and snorkelers visit coral reefs to enjoy their decreasing sea life.

Unprotected/monetized reefs

Even more tourists visit the beaches protected by disappearing reefs. Local economies receive billions of dollars from these visitors to reef regions through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems. One estimate places the total global value of coral-reef based recreation and tourism at $9.6 billion (NOAA 2013) of the total global net benefit of coral reefs.

It is in this environment that billions of development dollars are being spent on waterfront resort projects that refuse to acknowledge anything past the high tide mark.

Think about that for a moment.

Resort developers typically ensure that every square inch of land based development property has a propose. Water parks, restaurants, rooms, entertainment facilitates, golf courses, and yet around the world millions of acres of waterfront resort space is turning into broken graveyards of dead coral, few fish, and garbage - yes garbage.

The time for a change is here, the recognition that resort developers have an additional two to five acres of revenue generating spaces past the high tide mark is the start of an undersea revolution. One where developments look past the high tide mark into unique underwater engagement projects that benefit both the oceans and their bottom line.

With the help of the next generation of marine engineers, artists, and industry visionaries, over two million square miles of global waterfront resort development spaces can become productive and sustainable.

Welcome to the Future of Tourism.