Essex marine scientist calls for coral reef restoration on World Ocean Day
He's said it's vital action is taken
On World Ocean Day today, a marine scientist from the University of Essex is calling for more to be done to protect and restore the world's coral reefs.
Professor David Smith, from Brightlingsea, warns that 90% of the world’s corals could disappear by 2042 if no action is taken.
He says this can't happen, as they're so important for the environment: "Coral reefs only occupy about 0.1% of the ocean's surface, but they contain 25% of all marine life, so they're real hotspots of biodiversity.
"They also support the social-economic welfare of half a billion to a billion people, so they are exceptionally important - but unfortunately they're also critically endangered."
He says there are lots of things damaging the reefs: "There are global threats, which are obviously climate change and rising sea water temperatures.
"Then locally, there's a whole whole list of threats: overfishing, destructive fishing, unsustainable coastal development, which causes the physical breakup of a reef."
The Professor wants more steps to be taken to restore the reefs: "In many locations, coral reefs have lost their ability to recover on their own because they're so damaged, there is just no recovery potential.
"That's where restoration comes in to give it a kick start, and allow the system to recover naturally."
David is now working with Sheba's Hope Grows project, which hopes to restore global coral reefs by more than 185,000 square meters —roughly the size of 148 Olympic swimming pools — around the world by 2029.
Hope Grows began in Indonesia, with the restoration of Sheba® Hope Reef.
Since its construction, the conservation work resulted in coral cover increasing from 2% to 70% and aided the growth of the average size of fish in the region by 175%, with a 10% rise in the number of fish species present at the reef.
He says the project is a step in the right direction: "I think people realise how critically endangered reefs are, but what we need to see more programs like Hope Grows, because it demonstrates that you can make positive change in our lifetime.
"It shows the active restoration, so you get recovery, and demonstrates to the world that it is possible and sometimes you need that glimmer of hope to actually make a difference and generate enthusiasm and passion from the public."