Environment / Ocean

With reefs so endangered, you might think there is little you can personally do to help. But according to reef specialist Meaghan Johnson of the Nature Conservancy, individuals can make a difference here. “Anything we can do to reduce stress on coral reefs is a step in the right direction, and there is definitely a role for the public,” she says. To that end, the conservancy and other groups suggest that you:

• Reduce your personal carbon footprint. The less fossil fuel you use, the less carbon you release into the atmosphere and the less you contribute to the twin threats of global warming and ocean acidification. Take public transportation instead of a car, and, if possible, opt for green power like solar or wind at home.
• Eat low on the food chain (we use less energy producing a salad than a steak).
• Conserve water, creating less runoff and wastewater to pollute the ocean.
• Use organic fertilizers in your garden. The chemicals from commercial fertilizers will eventually find their way into the ocean, further harming the reefs.
• Plant trees. They absorb carbon dioxide and reduce runoff.
• Visit a reef, but don’t consume it. If you vacation at a reef resort, patronize businesses that manage the reefs responsibly (ask about the groups’ eco policies), and don’t buy souvenirs plundered from the reef ecosystem. Also, practice responsible diving and snorkeling: Don’t touch the reef or anchor your boat on the reef, acts that can damage or even kill these ecosystems.

While you are doing your part, scientists like Johnson, a participant in the Florida Reef Resilience Program, hope the reefs can be restored through careful monitoring and protection of reef nurseries. Another effort, called Biorock, comes from the late architect Wolf Hilbertz and coral scientist Tom Goreau. To restore the reefs, latticed steel structures are lowered into flagging reef habitats like the one at right and exposed to electric current. The current promotes the crystallization of dissolved minerals, forming limestone deposits that cling to the structure. Natural reef fragments are transplanted onto the lattice, and coral larvae flock to the limestone. They are quickly followed by the rest of the usual reef denizens—urchins, crabs, fish, and lobsters. The technique has so far been successfully deployed in Panama, Thailand, Indonesia, French Polynesia, and the Philippines.

Carl Brenner