Florida is home to many beautiful reefs, full of life; whether
it be the plentiful fish, the sharks, or most importantly to a reef, the corals.
The amount of diversity in coral reefs is absolutely mind-blowing and a sight
to see for any novice diver looking to explore the beautiful world that lies underwater.
Sadly with global warming and constant pollution, these beautiful reefs are at
risk to an epidemic found worldwide, Coral Bleaching.
Coral Bleaching is the term used when Coral, a two part
organism, expels the photosynthetic zooxanthellae and loses its color, turning
white. The cause of the majority of bleaching is thought to be linked to warming
of ocean temperatures, but bleaching can also be caused by diseases in the coral.
Luckily, none of the dive sites we visited had any noticeable bleaching, but
the issue is still widespread in Florida. Looking through pictures, it’s so sad
to think that within the next few years these reefs could also succumb to the bleaching.
The only way to hopefully stop this epidemic from destroying
the beautiful reefs in Florida would be to stop rising ocean temperatures,
which optimistically could happen but it is likely this wont be the case. The main
hope in saving reefs comes from more temperature resistant corals withstanding
rising temperatures, but this will result in a drastic change of species
composition within reefs.
There is however a way that a traveler can help not do even
more harm to the reefs, this is by using reef safe sunscreen when swimming in
the ocean. These sunscreens lack oxybenzone and octinoxate which are proven to
contribute to coral bleaching. By not using sunscreens containing these
chemicals, travelers reduce the amount of stress coral is put under. Less
stress correlates to less bleaching, and any effort counts.
With that said, go out there and explore your world! 71% of
our planet is covered in water and there is an entire world beneath it, full of
colorful fish, invertebrates, and corals!
https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/keynotes/keynotes_0914_coral_bleaching.html
https://keysdiver.com/Pages/reefs.htm
https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/keynotes/keynotes_0914_coral_bleaching.html
https://keysdiver.com/Pages/reefs.htm
While i was in venice for half the trip i had went snorkeling at some smaller coastal reefs and sadly almost every reef that we had explored had significant signs of bleaching. The fish populations where still thriving in these reefs which makes me think what they would have been like if they were not dying. The inner coastal waters are consistently reaching temperatures of upper 80s in venice and is rising. Nobody really notices coral bleaching as big of a problem as it is because most people don't get the chance to see these reefs and environments first hand. Out of sight out of mind i suppose is the saying.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are beautiful
ReplyDelete