Why Do We Need Coral Reef Nurseries?
A coral reef is more than just a pretty landscape. Though covering only 2 percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs have been projected to feed more than a billion people and support 25 percent of all ocean life! Thus, losing coral reef has dramatic effects on sea creatures and humans alike. In fact, coral reefs have been said to be declining faster than the tropical rain forests.
When Did Coral Reef Nurseries Begin?
As issues concerning coral reef are predominantly new (sourcing concern for the past 30 years), efforts to create coral reef nurseries began in the middle of the 1990s, credited by marine biologists from a university in Israel, and even this was an accident. When the leader of the laboratory conducting research in the fateful location, Baruch Rinkevich, noticed coral had inadvertently grown on underwater fish cages in the Red Sea, his curiosity motivated his spontaneous yearlong experiment in which he monitored how much coral would grow. However, this research was terminated after seven months because the results had simply occupied too much space. While this might not have helped with his undersea cages, it catalyzed a revolution of thought concerning coral reef nurseries. In any event, Rinkevich still works with coral.
The Coral Reef Nurseries of Veracruz, Mexico
The coral reef of Veracrux, Mexico, has historically been injured in the name of economical progress and practicality. Ship channels have been dynamited in this region to prevent ship groundings. This can be a huge financial burden and can be life threatening. But the actual dynamiting of the area has left the coral reef of Veracruz in shambles. Though this practice rarely occurs anymore, neither Mexico nor the U.S. have instituted any laws requiring corporations to replace the coral reef affected by their actions, and therefore the damage suffered by coral reefs by these shipping companies is often ignored.
Accordingly, the coral reef nurseries in Veracruz are trying to offer coral a fighting chance to continue existence, though not at any rate comparable to figures past. For example, coral reef of the area were growing by 80 percent 30 years ago, and now nurseries span areas comparable to someone’s backyard. However, progress in the Veracruz coral reef nurseries are nonetheless being made. Reportedly, 3,000 corals have been transported from the coral reef nursery to the wild, and another 500 corals are growing. As long as these efforts persist, they at least ensure that coral will not be extinct.
Rope Nurseries
While most coral reef nurseries grow on a grid, another type of coral reef nursery is known as a “rope nursery.” Rather than depending on drilling into sediment to offer coral a safe home, some aquaculturists are creating reefs that have been likened to rock candy. This type of coral reef nursery is therefore easier to create.
WORKS CITED
Vance, Erik. “Can Coral Nurseries Bring Reefs Back from the Brink?. Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=coral-nurseries-bring-reefs-back-from-brink.