Deep Sea Coral Reef Discovery Boosting Hopes for Marine Conservation

Deep Sea Coral Reef Discovery Boosting Hopes For Marine Conservation. Source: Unsplash
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Deep Sea Coral Reef Discovery Boosting Hopes For Marine Conservation. Source: Unsplash

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A new discovery of a pristine deep-sea coral reef in the Galapagos Marine Reserve off the coast of Ecuador is reaffirming the importance of establishing marine protected areas and providing an important research opportunity for scientists.

Coral is key

Coral reefs are some of the most important ecosystems on our planet that we know of. They are homes to thousands of different kinds of fish and other marine life, and their structure allows them to protect coastlines from storms. 

They are also beautiful to witness, as healthy coral takes on many colours and shapes that, to our eyes, seem outside of our world. It is a shame that, despite their many benefits, they have been dying en masse for decades now. 

Various human-made decisions have played a large role in the decline of coral worldwide; a combination of overfishing, ocean temperature increases, and ocean acidification are the main factors. That, combined with the increases in size and frequency of storms due to climate change, has severely affected the lives of thousands of coral reefs worldwide. 

Scientists have been racing to figure out different ways to save the reefs, and recently, they may have found through deep water coral reefs previously undiscovered the tools necessary to renew the coral reefs. 

The benefits of effective marine management.

On a joint expedition conducted by the Charles Darwin Foundation of Ecuador and the University of Essex in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, scientists have discovered deep-sea coral communities that are exceptionally healthy compared to the widespread damage done to shoreline coral reefs.

Using HOV Alvin, a submersible capable of diving 6,500 meters below the water’s surface, they found that healthy reefs can still thrive in the current time of widespread reef destruction and showcased the effectiveness of good marine management. “They are pristine and teeming with life – pink octopus, batfish, squat lobsters, and an array of deep-sea fish, sharks, and rays,” said Dr. Michelle Taylor, a researcher with the University of Essex. 

One of the main benefits of this discovery is the potential modelling that can be done to replicate past ocean environments to provide steps we can take to move toward healthy reefs in coastal waters around the world. 

Ecuador is continuing to stress the importance of establishing Marine Protected Areas, with the environmental minister of Ecuador, José Antonio Dávalos saying, “It reaffirms our determination to establish new marine protected areas [MPAs] in Ecuador and to continue promoting the creation of a regional marine protected area in the eastern tropical Pacific.” 

Ecuador is collaborating with its neighbours Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia to establish a regional marine corridor with the aim to protect and conserve the ocean

Moving forward

Taking serious measures to protect any area is important; however, ocean management is especially important as many people rely on it for their livelihood and cultural heritage. Governments have an obligation and important role to play in conserving these beautiful spaces, and they also stand to benefit. 

Storms and extreme weather events will only worsen for the time being as more and more negative effects stemming from climate change continue to present themselves. However, coral reefs can help save these coastal cities and communities from continued damage and provide a lucrative business opportunity in the tourism industry. 

Seeing the benefits from MPAs reaffirms to these governments that they are making the right decision and showing that other countries can follow in their footsteps to make the world and the oceans, specifically, a better place. 

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