A study of 2,500 coral reefs in 46 countries has yielded some interesting (if rather unsurprising) results: Coral reefs thrive where sustainable fishing methods are used. While coral bleaching is becoming a rampant problem in the world’s oceans, affecting even the Great Barrier Reef, there is some good news to report for coral reefs.
Researchers have found that areas of thriving reefs are not necessarily those that are isolated from human contact, but those where the people are taking steps to be responsible when it comes to their interactions with the ocean. The Pacific seems to be an especially healthy place for reefs. The Solomon Islands, Kiribati (located south of Hawaii), and parts of Indonesia all have thriving reef systems.
The people of these regions do fish but their practices tend to rely on more sustainable fishing methods, like using nets for catching large quantities of fish, and freezing their catch for later sale. Papua New Guinea goes one step further by preventing outsiders from fishing their waters. They also operate their fisheries in a more agricultural manner, alternating which sections of the reef are fished much in the way a farmer maintains healthy soils by rotating the fields in which they plant crops.
In Hawaii and Australia, where reefs are showing signs of bleaching and deterioration, more advanced technology is used for fishing. The fish populations there are less healthy, and the reefs are also suffering. Scientists hope to use the healthy reefs as examples for others to follow, to create a map for future conservation efforts.
What makes coral reefs so important? While these environments take up a mere 0.1 percent of the ocean, they are home to 25 percent of the world’s fish. They also preserve and protect coastlines by preventing erosion. This study brings home that, with an expansion of responsible fishing practices, there can continue to be more good news to report for reefs.
