ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF CORAL REEF DEGRADATION

Abstract

The coral reefs represent some of the planet's most significant ecological systems for marine biodiversity, along with environmental benefits. Still, they are rapidly vanishing due to a combination of various environmental and human-caused stressors. Global climatic changes, predation, coral diseases, sedimentation, marine development, and unsustainable fishing activities are major causes of reef degradation. Furthermore, declining water quality caused by eutrophication, plastic debris, and chemical pollutants, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, UV filters, and hydrocarbons, worsens the situation by harming coral health and reproduction. The review examines the ecological and socioeconomic consequences of reef decline, including reduced ecosystem services, loss of marine habitats, declining fish populations, and diminished coastal protection and tourism revenue, particularly in regions that rely on reefs for their livelihoods. Several active restoration methods have been examined, including coral gardening, larval propagation, substrate stabilization, micro-algal removal, micro-fragmentation, artificial reefs, and coral transplantation, alongside passive approaches like establishing marine reserves and predator exclusion, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive and multifaceted strategies. The paper offers several recommendations, including improving monitoring tools, expanding restoration efforts, enhancing stakeholder collaboration, and developing legislation to safeguard reefs for future generations. Through both national and global initiatives, it remains possible to prevent further deterioration and conserve the vital services they provide.