2. Coral Reef Degradation

4. Corals Reefs Coral Coral Reefs
Made up of limestone skeletons of tiny marine organisms called coral polyps.
Coral Reefs
Hard rocky ridge build up from the sea bed by many tiny coral animals.
They are sometimes called the rainforest of the ocean.
They are the home to a great number and variety of fish and other living organisms.

5. Coral Reef Degradation
The worlds coral reefs are shrinking rapidly.
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network estimated that by the end of the year 2000, 27% of the worlds coral reefs had been permanently damaged due to natural and human factors.

6. Causes of Coral Reef Degradation
There are two main causes to Coral Reef Degradation: Natural Causes
Human Activities
Natural Causes include
Hurricanes
Climate change
Natural predators

7. Human Activities include
Over Fishing and other damaging fishing methods
Sedimentation
Pollution
Coastal development
Tourism

8. Consequences of Coral Reef Degradation
Coastal Erosion
Decline in fish stock
Loss of potential sources of medicine
Loss of natural heritage
Source of employment
Loss of tourist attractions

9. Additional Notes Types of reefs
Fringing reefs – a narrow coral platform separated from the coast by a shallow lagoon which may disappear at low tide.
Eg. Buccoo Reef, Tobago
Barrier Reefs – a coral platform separated from the coast by a deep lagoon
(much larger than a fringing reef). It lies in deeper water, much further out at sea.
Eg. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia (world’s best example)
and in the Caribbean there is a barrier reef on the coast of Belize.
Atoll Reefs – a circular coral reef which encloses a lagoon (or an area of deep water)
Eg. Near the coast (near barrier reef) in Belize