Ready for Coral Reef Defeat, Scientists Suggest Storing Species for Future

Updated in response to today’s coral reef disaster in Indian Ocean. GreenTracker| Scientists have proposed storing samples of coral species in liquid nitrogen, in hopes that they can be reintroduced to seas of the future, once global temperatures are stabilised.

At a meeting organized by Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment, (mediocre website) scientists proposed storing samples of coral species in liquid nitrogen.

Under the best of circumstances (which don’t exist), short-term actions won’t save coral reefs, because the coral is unusually sensitive to any change in CO2 levels.  Today, 20% of coral reefs are completely destroyed and 20% are severely damaged.

Pressing Problems in Southeast Asia | The Coral Triangle

Today’s premise is that coral reefs won’t survive even if tough regulations on greenhouse gases are put in place. I did not know that the reefs, which cover only a tiny amount (1%) of the ocean floor, are a key source of food, income and coastal protection for around 500 million people worldwide.

Watching the video GLOBAL 3000, we learn that the environment is not the only problem with our dying coral reefs, especially in the 600 coral species in Southeast Asia comprising 75 percent of coral species worldwide.

Fishermen use cyanide to stun fish (no comment) to make catching them easier. This cyanide is killing coral reefs in a part of the world that’s critical for global food supply. Efforts are being made to convince fishermen to return to fishing with nets, not cyanide.

The poison also kills ornamental fish in Southeast Asia. These fish beauties are at risk as some of the 3000 fish species in ‘the coral triangle’ of Asian waters, and also as lost income to other fishermen shipping ornamental fish for acquariums around the world. Those fish command 100 to 150x the price of the ‘grey’ fish, stunned by cyanide. The large exotic-looking fish are also shipped live to expensive restaurants for dinner, most likely in Hong Kong and China.

According to recent research, one of the world’s most important concentrations of coral - the so-called Coral Triangle in South East Asia - could be destroyed by climate change before the end of this century with significant impacts on food security and livelihoods. via BBC News

Note from Anne: Much to our shock, this has become our top story on A of C. In expanding the story for you, we find this video to be an excellent one:

GLOBAL 3000 | Fishing With Nets Instead of Chemicals

An earlier post from Fall 2009:  Researchers Offered Rare Opportunity to Assume Proactive Environmental Action in Saving Atlantic’s Coral Reefs