Most people are aware of the rules associated with Dolphin Watching: do not feed them, do not get too close to them, do not harass them. While we recognize how important it is to respect dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals, it is also essential to pay attention to much smaller but very important living organisms: corals.

What are the rules for coral watching or snorkeling? Snorkeling is a very touristic and profitable activity. However, corals are only found on one percent of the seafloor worldwide. Accordingly, a few sites are selected and visited on a daily basis. The conglomeration of boats and swimmers over the same site, day after day, could be a potential threat to the corals and the ecosystem they live in.

The importance of coral reefs

Coral reefs are often referred to as “rainforests of the sea” because they are among the most biodiverse systems on the planet. Coral reefs are home to a quarter of all known marine species, including sea urchins, lobsters, octopus, and sea turtles.

A healthy and effectively managed coral reef can produce between 5 and 15 tons of fish and seafood per km2 per year. Coral reefs not only represent an important source of protein, but also create job opportunities in the fishing and tourism industries. They attract divers, snorkelers and recreational fishers from all over the world. Additionally, some reef species have been analyzed and tested for pharmaceutical use and the treatment of diseases such as cancer, HIV, and malaria.

The island of Mauritius is surrounded by a crystal clear blue lagoon encircled by 150 km of fringing reefs. The reefs, made of corals, also protect the shoreline from waves, storms, and erosion. In addition to protecting the island, coral reefs contribute to the country’s economy by generating Rs 22 billion of annual revenue from tourism and fisheries. Unfortunately, 81 percent of the reefs in Mauritius are at risk. Certain Mauritian lagoon reefs have lost up to 50 to 60 percent of their live coral cover in recent years, according to the Mauritius Oceanography Institute.

The reasons for this decline are not unique to Mauritius. They include cyclones, coral diseases, crown-of-thorns starfish, coral bleaching, human damage from extensive coastal development, landbased pollution, sewage outfalls, unsustainable tourism, overfishing and anchor damage.

Solutions exist

While all these problems are present globally and complex to tackle, there are a few things that can be done about it locally and individually. For instance, you can help make a big difference simply by addressing anchor damage.

Anchors are powerful tools. They can prevent boats from drifting due to winds or currents. Each time an anchor is dropped in the water, it drags and grips what it falls on. The anchor’s chain too, under the influence of the waves and the wind, drags and sweeps out the bottom of the ocean around the boat. Unfortunately, corals do not grow faster nor stronger when we cut or break them.

Permanent mooring buoys have been placed around the island to lessen the harmful effects of anchors on corals. They are permanent anchors that were carefully fixed on the bottom of the sea. Linked to a surface buoy, they allow several boats to attach to it, without damaging the ocean floor.

Use mooring buoys over anchors! Ask your friends, family, diving instructors, boat skippers, and dolphin watching guides to do the same. If permanent mooring buoys are not available in your region, demand some!

Time to react

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SCIENTIST TO PROTECT CORAL REEFS!

• The ocean floor is not a dance floor. Be careful when fishing, swimming and what you step on. Do not give corals as presents. They are already a gift.

• If you are going to anchor, anchor away from corals. Anchor in sandy areas so that the anchor and chain do not drag on nearby corals. Save water! The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater eventually end up back into the ocean.

• Take pictures and notes. They are a good way of monitoring change over time and assessing degradation or amelioration.

Scared of the ocean but curious about what reefs look like? Visit ReefCam at https://reefcam.tv/. The website gives you a diver’s view of coral reefs around the world in real time without having to go underwater!

Challenge of the Month

Lots of different species live in coral reefs. The ones in the photos below were spotted last week in Poste Lafayette. Can you guess what the three species are?

Send your answers to lacaz.poisson@lexpress.mu!

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