Conservation of Coral Reefs

Ras Mohamad National Park,
Egypt

Conservation of Coral Reefs

Tourist, sitting on a coral
colony

“Coral reefs are one of the earth’s natural treasures. We, the users and beneficiaries of these remarkable resources must do all that we can to preserve them in good health for future generations.”
Robert N. Ginsburg, Coral reef scientist, University of Miami (1997)

Not a year of remembrance
The International Year of the Reef (IYOR) is an international forum for activities for the protection of coral reefs. Also in Germany a IYOR-team organises public awareness campaigns and a homepage. In addition numerous further education courses for teachers and recreational divers as well as exhibitions with the topic “coral reef” are organised.
Further information you find in the internet:
German Coral Reef Server (in German)
ReefCheck Germany (in German)
ReefCheck (in English)
More links to coral reefs you can find here
These activities started in 1997 and are still going on!

Coral reef lagoon in New Caledonia

Philippino fishermen

Coral Reefs and Fisheries
Marine reserves as no fishing zones are recovery areas for overexploited fishery resources. Twelve marine reserves were established in the Philippines by a EU funded project of the Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology (University of Bremen).

Coral Reefs and Tourism
National parks such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia or the Ras Mohammed National Park in Egypt can help to protect coral reefs. Requirements to meet are:
- Visitor centres for information
- Restriction of diving and snorkeling to specified areas

Marine reserves in New Caledonia

Artificial reef with "coral seedlings"

Artificial Reefs – a Solution?
Artificial reefs (ARs) are made of:
- concrete blocks, tyres and wrecks. Usually it takes years until artificial structures are overgrown. ARs attract fish, followed by fishermen and overfishing might be a result
- steel structures, covered by a crust of carbonate. Direct current causes the aggregation of carbonate after within three month. Corals and other animals settle down. In addition “coral seedlings” are attached to enhance the overgrowth. This technique was developed by the architect Prof. Wolf H. Hilbertz (Academy of Fine Arts, Bremen) and others

Anyway, a natural reef can not be replaced!

Recreational diving in a different way
SCORE - Save Coral Reefs is a project by Prof. Schuhmacher from the University of Essen. Artificial reefs build up by the technique of Prof. Hilbertz, so-called SCORE parks, should become an alternative dive site for recreational divers.

Artificial reef made of tyres

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