What are coral reefs and how can we conserve them?

This week we celebrate the world oceans day we highlight the key role that reefs play in the maintenance of ecosystems. We tell you what coral reefs are and how we can conserve them.

Scientists warn the world has lost 14% of reefs due to warming of the oceans. This is mainly due to climate changeto excess fishing, and to the development of unsustainable tourism.

Plants, animals or mineral elements?

First of all, it is necessary to clarify that one thing is the corals and another the coral reefs.

Corals are marine animals that belong to the group of Cnidarians (such as jellyfish and anemones)live in symbiosis with algae and produce a skeleton of calcium carbonate (thus they have elements of the three kingdoms: animal, vegetable and mineral).

For his part, Coral reefs are structures that form underwater and are made up of corals. We can say that the reefs are true”jungles of the sea” that group different species of living beings: organisms and plants.

Surely you have admired images of these marine coral colonies that stand out for their beauty and colors. Well, not only are they beautiful, they also serve key functions in the world’s oceans.

Where can we find them?

Coral reefs need warm water to thrive. In the tropical oceans they form structures that grow around old volcanoes and can live there for hundreds of years.

The main coral reefs in the world are:

• The Great Barrier Reef, also known as Great Barrier Reef for being the largest in the world, in Queensland, Australia.
• The Mesoamerican Reef, which goes from Yucatán (Mexico) to the Bay Islands in Honduras.
• The New Caledonian Lagoons, a group of archipelagos in Oceania.
• The Andros Barrier Reef in the Bahamas.
• There are also smaller reefs in the Red Sea (Indian Ocean), the Florida Keys and the Maldives.
• They predominate in some US territories such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico.

The importance of coral reefs

The healthy coral reefs perform these functions:

1. They generate habitat and food for more than a million aquatic species.
2. They protect coastal infrastructure from storms, tsunamis, erosion, and flooding.
3. They are a source of food for fish and algae with which people living on distant islands feed.
4. Corals recycle carbon dioxide, a gas responsible for the greenhouse effect.
5. Along with algae, they are a source of new medicines for people.
6. They provide tourism opportunities and economic gains.
7. They generate job opportunities for those who make jewelry and other crafts.
8. In a word: all that coral reefs provide represents enormous economic value to the entire world.

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How to protect them?

Some tips that we can put into practice as travelers or tourists:

• Avoid touching them or anchoring boats on the reefs.
• Practice diving with snorkeling equipment, responsibly.
• Swap sunscreens for sustainable alternatives, as the ingredients are harmful.
• Recycle, dispose of garbage responsibly and avoid throwing plastic into the water.
• Reduce the use of fertilizers that reach the oceans.
• Choose green modes of transportation to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that acidify the oceans.
• Be responsible when buying aquarium fish and avoid buying live corals for fish tanks.

Now that you know what coral reefs are, it’s time to incorporate sustainable habits to protect the world’s oceans.

Have you visited reefs on a trip or have you seen them in photos?