Coral Reef Restoration in the Next Millennium

Precht, William; Dodge, Richard

STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Coral reefs around the world have changed dramatically over the past two decades. Many types of disturbance-separately and in combination are changing the face of reefs. These include: hurricanes, coral bleaching, diseases of corals and sea urchins, overfishing, destructive fishing, nutrient loading, sedimentation, hyper- and hypothermic stress, various forms of pollution, harvesting of reef invertebrates, coral mining, trampling by tourists and divers, and the destruction and devastation caused by ship anchors and groundings. It is obvious that this resource needs protection, and that many of the cited anthropogenic causes can be reduced or avoided by implementation of scientifically-based management programs. At the present rate of destruction, reef ecosystems will likely suffer continued significant degradation, possibly to the point of irreversible decline. Accordingly, one appropriate course of action is to replace or restore damaged and disturbed reefs with functional ecosystems at a rate resulting in no-net loss of ecosystem value (that is, rate of reef destruction offset by rate of reef repair). While a potentially worthy goal, the discipline of coral reef restoration is in its infancy. Not only do managers and policymakers need to understand the effects of human induced disturbances and to be able to properly assess these damages, they also need the knowledge, understanding, and tools to successfully develop restoration efforts on degraded reefs under their stewardship. In addition, it may be futile to attempt restoration unless some chronic causes of degradation, such as pollution or sedimentation, are first reduced or eliminated. These issues were addressed at the 9th ICRS and relevant findings are presented.

Coral Reef Restoration in the Next Millennium

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