HUMAN CORAL REEF DESTRUCTION DESTRUCTION
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http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/images/dynamite_reef_1.jpg
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/photogalleries/coral-pictures/images/primary/1_461.jpg
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/photogalleries/coral-pictures/images/primary/1_461.jpg
Direct human activity is causing sever damage to coral reefs. Over nutrients from excess run-off, sedimentation and pollutant discharge increase nutrients level causing algae bloom and other organisms to grow that block light from coral reefs.11 The decrease in light ultimately starves the coral because it relies on Symbiotic zooanthellea to preform photosynthesis.11 Marine-based pollutions also harms coral reefs by leaking fuels, and leaching chemicals into water. These chemicals obscure light and kill biodiversity which helps eat algae that otherwise harms coral.11
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/images/dynamite_reef_1.jpg
Reef inhabitants are also overfished and exploited for recreational and commercial purposes. Fish and coral are often collected and sold for aquariums and the jewelry trade. Fish are collected in many harmful ways that not only kill fish but the coral they live in. There are four popular and extremely degrading ways of collecting fish.11
•Blast fishing: dynamite or heavy explosives are set off in water to stun fish so that they are easy to catch. This method cracks coral heads and stresses close by coral colonies, leading to large sections of reef destruction.11
•Cyanide fishing: cyanide is sprayed or dumped on coral reefs to stun and capture fish. Then the reef is ripped open to catch more fish.6 The cyanide kills about 90% of fish in the reef along with coral polyps and completely destroys the reef.11
•Deep Water Trawling: Fishnets are dragged along the ocean bottom capturing fish and ripping coral from its base. These nets are often abandoned and can get entangled in coral reefs.11
•Muro-aminetting: weighted bags are pounded repetitively coral reefs to scare out fish that are then caught. This damages coral reefs and kills many fish.11