Marine reserves can protect coral reefs from destruction

Marine reserves could save the endangered coral reefs from further ecological destruction, a new study by researchers from the University of Exeter has revealed.

Washington, May 15 : Marine reserves could save the endangered coral reefs from further ecological destruction, a new study by researchers from the University of Exeter has revealed.

Marine reserves have already proved to be a successful way of protecting marine life against commercial fishing. Now, a new study published in the May 15, 2007 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has shown for the first time how marine reserves can help in the recovery of corals, which are already suffering the effects of climate change and over-fishing.

The research carried out on the 442 square km Bahamas' Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, one of the largest and most successful marine reserves in the Caribbean, showed how the number of young corals had doubled in areas in which native fish, such as parrotfish, were protected from being caught.

Young corals are needed to replace older corals that have been killed by storms, disease or other problems. Scientists found the reserve enabled young corals to survive exceptionally well, as parrotfishes living in the reserve controlled the marauding seaweeds by grazing on them.

According to lead researcher Professor Peter Mumby of the University of Exeter, 'this is the first evidence that marine reserves benefit coral'.

"Coral reefs are unique ecosystems that have supported thousands of fish and other marine species for millions of years. We estimate that humans have already destroyed around 30 percent of the world's coral reefs and climate change is now causing further damage to coral," said Prof. Mumby.

"These findings illustrate the need to maintain high levels of parrotfishes on reefs in order to give corals a fighting chance of recovering. This can either be done using marine reserves or national fisheries legislation that protects parrotfish," he said.

ANI