2,000-Year-Old Coral in Australia FIGHTING for Survival. ( The Monolith)

But now our Coral Reefs face another devastating issue due to rising water temperatures and the acidification of our Oceans. Coral Reefs are the building blocks, the foundations of all bio-diversity and are one quarter of life’s species in the Ocean. Right now, we’re losing the ice and the kelp forests, but losing the coral reefs is comparison to hundreds of millions of people losing their food supply. We are finally killing the Ocean to a point we cannot ignore.

Science for solutions!! There have been three major bleaching events in the last Five years, due to rising water temperature. Such events happened in 1998 and 2003, thankfully the Reef recovered, but that might not always be the case. The amazing thing is that corals have almost an indefinite life, so long as they have clean water, sunlight and a few trace elements they bud and duplicate.

The Bio Bank is a project where live specimens of corals are collected from the Great Barrier Reef and reefs around the world. Coral is collected of pure genetic stock and distributed to aquariums worldwide, to be cared for. These samples will be kept until rising water temperature and climate issues are dealt with. The samples will then be called back when it’s safe, either to be re-planted or for research, an asset for future Coral Science and a fantastic visionary project.

Just because coral is white does not mean it’s dead. Coral bleaching occurs when the water temperature is too high or the UV light is too strong which stresses the coral. When that happens the algae that lives inside the coral, Zooxanthelliae becomes toxic so the coral expels it. Zooxanthelliae, gives coral its color so without it looks bleached. Hence the name Coral Bleaching!! However, the coral is still alive, hoping conditions get better so it can be re-absorbed. If that continues too long the coral will eventually die. These algae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes. Most importantly zooxanthellae, supply the coral with glucose, glycerol, and amino acids, which are the products of photosynthesis. Once its dead, external algae will settle on it and become weed like. Once the whole area is like that it is unlikely it will come back, as there is no place for new coral to settle.

Furthermore, there are certain places in the world where herbivores who eat the algae have been fished out. Those reefs have now been lost and un-recoverable. It is important to have fish management, monitor water quality, manage agricultural run offs, storm and sewer drains and fossil fuel emissions.

If the coral reefs fail and we lose these species to extinction, then that’s pretty catastrophic.

Here on Sylfia we use Coral reef safe sunscreen, vegan and palm oil free with no parabens. Some places around the world are banning the use of sunscreens with damaging chemicals. Do your part!! Practice safe and responsible diving. Avoid touching reefs or anchoring your boat on the reef. Contact with the reef will damage the delicate coral, look for sandy bottoms or use moorings when available. Take a reef-friendly approach to sun protection.