Fears for the future of the Caribbean's coral reefs May face
massive erosion ... the Caribbean's coral reef. Photo: iStock
THE Caribbean region's coral reefs have ceased growing at an
''extremely alarming'' rate and may be poised for massive
erosion, a new study has determined. A recent report by an
international group of scientists concluded that coral reef
growth, especially in shallow water like that offshore of South
Florida, has declined by as much as 70 per cent. ''Reefs have
gone downhill all over the place and this study has added more
evidence,'' says Professor Richard Dodge, director of the
National Ocean Reef Institute at Nova Southeastern University in
Davie, Florida. ''We're in a period of slow to no growth here in
south-east Florida's coral reefs.'' Reefs matter to local
economies, Professor Dodge says. A 2000 study by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that through
boating, diving, fishing and related activities, reefs fuelled a
$6 billion annual economic boost to the US