Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

Robert Johannes, a marine biologist, once said, “We’ve got a big environmental murder going on and no one is doing anything about it.” (Hinrichsen 3) Funding is crucial in order to maintain and ensure the survival of coral reefs all around the world. Without the reefs, there will be significant consequences. According to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, “Approximately five hundred million people depend on the coral reefs.” This dependence varies from things such as a source of food, protection from the vicious storms coming in from the oceans, tourism, and many more services. Without the coral reefs, millions of people would lose their jobs. Developing countries, such as Haiti and the Philippines, would be hit the hardest because the coral reefs make up approximately 80% of their country’s total income. (www.coralreef.gov) Monitoring and research are essential to making sure the coral reefs survive, but these kinds of things are not …show more content…
Hinrichsen talks about how the Marine Park Authority divided the Great Barrier Reef into four areas, which are then divided into three zones: general-use for everything except harmful activities; national park for looking, but no touching; and restricted for science research only. This could drastically change the rate at which the coral reefs are able to recover. Another solution to keeping the coral reefs safe is to restrict fishing in certain parts of the reefs, including the use of cyanide, dynamite, and any other harmful types of fishing. Not only will this ensure the health and protection of marine animals living amongst the coral reefs, but it will also ensure the protection and health of the reefs against these harmful measures. All of these solutions will require funding in order to make them