Coral reefs play a fundamental role in sustaining the most diverse ecosystems on the planet (Wear, 2016). For instance, coral reefs secure coastlines from the ocean waves' destructive impacts and protect them from tropical storms. Coral reefs also offer habitats for various marine organisms. Furthermore, coral reefs are a rich source of nutritious compounds such as nitrogen for marine ecosystems. They also significantly assist in the process of nitrogen-fixing and the recycling of nutrients. Coral reefs significantly contribute to healthy ecosystems (Wear, 2016). Healthy ecosystems offer human beings essential needs, such as food and drugs. They also help to purify the atmospheric oxygen and water and break down environmental pollutants such as carbon dioxide. Lastly, coral reefs offer sceneries for recreational activities and tourism. Coral reefs do form on shallow waters located adjacent to the shores. Therefore, their locations pose threats from human activities through direct exploitation to obtain the reefs' resources. The risks may also come from the human activities taking place adjacent to their formation zones. Human activities destroying the coral reefs are socially, culturally, and economically motivated. The threats include trash and microplastics, excess nutrients, and ocean acidification. Trash and microplastics are significant threats to coral reefs caused by improper disposal of human and industrial wastes. Trash constitutes plastic bags, plastic and glass bottles, and marine debris disposed of fishing gear. When these waste materials enter the sea, they block the sun's rays from reaching the coral ecosystems. Sunlight is an essential component of photosynthesis that, when not accessed by the marine ecosystem, the organisms are likely to die. Furthermore, when coral organisms ingest plastics and marine trash, their digestive tract may get blocked, intoxicating them. The excess nutrients that potentially pose a threat to coral reefs include nitrogen and phosphorus. The nutrients originate from the extensive use of fertilizers in agriculture, sewage effluents from the various plants that treat wastewater and septic lines, and animal wastes. Although nutrients pose some significant benefits to marine and coral ecosystems, they are potentially dangerous in large amounts. It would be harmful and destructive to inject large amounts of nutrients into a coral ecosystem adapted to a low concentration of those nutrients. Furthermore, excess nutrients accelerate algae's growth, forming on the coral rocks and water surface, thereby blocking the sunlight from accessing the marine organisms. Ocean acidification is mainly caused by increased ocean temperatures and a drastic change in its chemistry. Ocean acidification involves altering the ocean's chemical composition in response to the consumption of atmospheric carbon dioxide. In a normal sea condition, the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide is always at equilibrium with sea concentration. Therefore, the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide increases the sea's carbon dioxide hence acidifying the water. There are several strategies that maritime authorities in partnership with the national governments can implement to counter the threats to coral reefs indicated above. On matters regarding plastic waste and trash disposal. In this case, the government ought to impose a ban on non-reusable plastic bags and bottles and replace them with reusable ones to mitigate coral reefs' further pollution ( Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2018) . Replacing single-use plastic bags and bottles is a cost-effective strategy that will help protect the coral reefs and lead to a green environment. On excess nutrients, farmers based near the coastlines ought to embrace a minimized use of organic fertilizers. Minimizing the use of fertilizers can significantly help in the reduction of coral reef bleaching. Also, minimizing fertilizers' use will help protect the soil and the natural nutrients embedded in it, thereby significantly leading to a greener environment. Reducing the level of ocean acidification is equally vital in guaranteeing the protection of coral reefs' ecosystems ( Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2018) . Various industries need to adopt ways of controlling how they release their fumes, which are mainly composed of carbon dioxide. One way of doing so is by embracing the use of green energy such as wind and solar instead of fossil fuels. The use of green energy helps in mitigating the challenges of global warming. Mandated policies will significantly help in the reduction of coral reef pollution by plastic waste (Harvey et al., 2018). The banning of single-use plastic bags and bottles is a long-term initiative that can work best when overseen by government policies. The problem of plastic waste is not a problem that can be easily managed voluntarily. For the issue of excessive nutrients, a combination of both mandated and voluntary protection strategies ought to apply. For the mandated procedures, the local government can spell out policies that control the use of fertilizers. On the other hand, farmers can take the step of constructing dykes to prevent fertilizers spillage on the coral ecosystem. The problem of oceanic acidification is a problem that can get addressed by applying both voluntary and mandated protection strategies. Mandated strategies may apply by drafting policies that oversee industrial waste management. The voluntary approach can help educate people on the importance of embracing green energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. The federal government can enforce coral reef protection strategies in various ways. First, the federal agencies can collaborate with the local government in implementing programs that protect watersheds and coastal zones of coral reef regions. For example, the US Environmental Protection Agency protects coral reefs through its Clean Water Act programs that tremendously help protect water quality through its waste management plans (Harvey et al., 2018). For the excessive nutrient discharges, the local governments can support farmers by offering them loans to divert to a healthier cultivation method. On ocean acidification, the US federal government can partner with the International Coral Reef Initiative to implement the laws that protect coral reefs.
References
Harvey, B. J., Nash, K. L., Blanchard, J. L., & Edwards, D. P. (2018). Ecosystem‐based management of coral reefs under climate change. Ecology and Evolution , 8 (12), 6354-6368.
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Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Kennedy, E. V., Beyer, H. L., McClennen, C., & Possingham, H. P. (2018). Securing a long-term future for coral reefs. Trends in ecology & evolution , 33 (12), 936-944.
Wear, S. L. (2016). Missing the boat: Critical threats to coral reefs are neglected on a global scale. Marine Policy , 74 , 153-157.
