Coral reefs are one of the world’s most endangered species, with NASA stating that as much as 27 percent of monitored reefs have been lost with another 32 percent at risk of being lost within the next 32 years. They make up one of the world’s most varied ecosystems, with nearly one million fish, invertebrate and algae species being found in or around coral reefs.

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A major threat to reef ecosystems comes from certain types of fishing gear, such as gill nets and beach seines. If gear is left abandoned, it will continue “ghost fishing,” which the Reef Resilience Network describes as “ensnaring prey and smothering corals for months or years after deployment.” Abandoned gear can also dislodge coral as waves move them over time. Reef damage can also occur from anglers using reefs as an anchor, according to the National Marine Sanctuaries.

 

Coral is not only impacted by marine waste, however. Solid wastes that are dumped into the coast are responsible for killing coral directly or leaching toxins into the waters which will in turn stress the coral, according to the Reef Resilience Network. Climate change is also a major contributor, as precipitation pattern changes will increase erosion that will runoff into coastal waters.

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A study at James Cook University found that corals consume microplastics at the same rate as they would their normal food sources, such as zooplankton. Mia Hoogenboom, P.h.D., a researcher on the project, stated that the coral would suffer a “very slow process of starvation” as their stomachs would become overloaded with plastic. This is a huge risk, as a 2013 study found that each square kilometer of Australian surface sea water is filled with around 4,000 pieces of tiny plastic, according to The Guardian.

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One group working to combat the effects of abandoned fishing gear on marine ecosystems is Fishing for Energy, which offer commercial fishermen no-cost opportunities to dispose of their retired fishing gear, and provide grants to improve gear to reduce its impacts. They provide collection bins at ports for fishermen to unload their gear, work with state managers to address the derelict fishing gear problem, and educate the public on the impacts of fishing gear on marine life. Through March 2016, Fishing for Energy managed to collect over 3 million pounds of fishing gear, which was then used for energy conversion and metal recycling.

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Another effort being made to improve the quality of reefs is the Eye on the Reef app, which is free to download on any smart phone and can be used to report sightings of anything from invasive species to marine pollution, specifically for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria and southern Queensland. The app also serves to educate about the Great Barrier Reef and the creatures that live around it.  All of the data collected by Eye on the Reef is combined in a single system with which Marine Park rangers and researchers can keep track of the information in hopes of detecting issues early on.

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Increased efforts to mitigate issues facing the coral reefs will hopefully reduce the impact humans are having on these vulnerable and valuable ecosystems.