Green Daily

Yesterday a survey of 66 coral reef sites in 7 countries was released. The good news is that conservation zones around coral reefs are helping the fish stock rebound. The bad news? The zones aren't doing anything to help the coral reefs.

Back in 1998, El Nino destroyed a about half of the coral in the West Indian ocean. Some places actually lost 90% of the coral! Coral reefs are a critical part of the eco-system, so conservation efforts focused on reducing the impact of fishing and human contact with the reefs.

It turns out that the increasing water temperatures that are keeping the coral from recovering, more than boats and people. In areas with colder water, like Southern Tanzania, Reunion Island and Mauritius, the coral reefs are coming back, even though there are fewer protection zones in those places.

Results from efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change on the ocean temperatures might come too late for some coral reefs in warm waters. But there is some hope. Looking at the big picture, the coral that is surviving can help us reseed the dead coral areas, you know, once we get the temperatures to stop rising.