Coral Triangle Initiative

 

 

We cannot see the reefs for the corals

 

 

The coral reefs of the Coral Triangle are the most abused in the world. The people who access them and ravage them are, because of poverty and ignorance, largely unmindful of what they have and what they do.

Those who live on the land and do not use the sea are equally uncaring about what their behavior does to the reefs and inshore systems.

 

At this point in time a large effort is being made to save what is left of the reefs and reef systems without really understanding the problem.

 

The ICRI Resolution of 2005 “ICRI Resolution on Artificial Coral Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation” clearly shows that an academic, marine biologist mindset does not see the realities of the reefs in these Third World countries.

 

By relegating artificial reef technology to an area of uncertain returns from “engineering solutions” the resolution demonstrates that the writers have no concept of what the fundamental problems are nor the way in which to address them in the shortest timeframe.

 

Engineering problems require engineering solutions. When an individual drops a bomb on a reef the resultant rubble heap requires an engineering solution just as surely as do the results of a bomb dropped on Iraq.

 

After the bomb the live reef that remains cannot grow on the unstable rubble, fish population has been diminished and safety from predators reduced. The bomb was an engineering problem.

 

Two immediate actions are required to recover from the bombing:

 

  • Stop the bombing. This can only be done by policing and provision of alternative means of livelihood. The perpetrators, in their poverty, have no thought of future consequences of their actions, only the immediate need to survive.

 

  • Install in the damaged reef new, stable real estate for the reef to expand upon and recover — that is new substrate which provides opportunity for colonization and protection for small fish from predators. Install artificial coral reef structures, an engineering solution to an engineering problem.

 

Intervention is critical to save the reefs. They will not recover naturally, they will just get bombed again.

 

Reef systems only recover when all the necessary factors are present:

 

  • Damage is stopped.
  • New substrate (real estate) is provided.
  • The correct mix of grazing fish is present to prevent algal takeover.
  • The reef and environs are protected as reserves.
  • A complete range of reef creatures are allowed to exist and develop.

 

The rate at which the remaining reef recovers and expands onto its new real estate is largely dependent on the amount of living reef and coral types, acropora, being the fastest growing, needs to be provided if it has all been damaged.

 

Corals reproduce in 3 discrete ways:

 

  • By annual spawning, which may enable expansion onto the new artificial coral.
  • By asexual replication, which will not colonize the new artificial coral until live coral larvae attach.
  • By ‘brooder’ polyps which keep fertilized eggs inside themselves and emit them as larvae when they develop. These ‘brooder’ polyps are continuously emitting larvae into the water column which may colonize the new artificial coral all year round.

 

Clearly if there is no acceptable substrate provided the corals cannot attach and grow, nor can the coralline algae, sponges and turf algae (fish fodder).

 

From the foregoing it is clear that waiting for the reef to heal itself is an exercise in self deception. We must intervene to correct the previous malignant intervention.

 

The difficulties in persuading impoverished fishing communities to protect their only resource is beyond the scope of this discussion, but should they be overcome and protection put in place the reefs will not recover without an engineering solution.

 

What are the criteria for artificial reef elements?

 

As defined by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency in the  2006 report -   Marine and Coastal Environment part of the Abu Dhabi Environment Initiative
 
  For a structure to be given the true title   Artificial Reef   it must conform to the four
 following requirements:-
1. Stability
2. Durability
3. Compatibility
4. Function. 


To become a productive artificial reef, a structure must also be able to provide similar attributes to
 that of a natural reef and this can only be achieved through appropriate design and location selection.
 These attributes for example should include the provision of shelter, the penetration of sunlight,
  adequate flow of clean water (currents), and provision of habitat for a diverse biodiversity of animal and plants that can develop into a self
   -sustaining ecosystem (containing various food chains and nutrient pathways.

From this it is obvious that we will not be of much assistance if we just dump rubbish and discarded machinery, ships and airplanes etc. into the reefs.

 

 

There are currently two types of engineered artificial coral reef substrate systems generally available which meet or exceed the criteria:

 

  • Eco-Coral, from Eco-Coral Corporation, Philippines.

 

  • Reef Balls,  from The Reef Ball Foundation, Florida, U.S.A. and it’s international representatives.

 

In conclusion the only strategy which will save the reefs of the Coral Triangle is a 2 pronged approach:

 

  • Enforced protection and prevention of damage coupled with alterative livelihoods for the fishing communities = political will plus funds.

 

  • Rapid deployment of engineered artificial coral reef substrate which meets the criteria = community involvement and funds.

 

Anything else will provide for countless committees and reports and fun dives but which will, in the end, be Gilbert and Sullivan “all sound and music signifying nothing”.