Parrotfish key to preserving coral

 

Caribbean reef is dependant on the presence of the colourful fish.

Scrabble Word Finder

New research indicates that reefs found in the Caribbean may be in imminent danger due to an influx of seaweed.

Reefs, when pushed beyond a certain point, find it very difficult to recover. The new findings, published in the journal Nature, indicate the human activity, such as fertiliser use and over-fishing, is leading to an unprecedented growth of seaweed volume.

Speaking to the BBC, Exeter University ecologist and lead author of the report, Professor Mumby, commented: "We are seeing more and more coral reefs becoming just overgrown with seaweed… A reef can become almost permanently unhealthy. We found you can push a reef so far and then it becomes extremely difficult for a reef to recover - it's like the straw that broke the camel's back."

Introduce more parrotfish

One proposed solution is the protection of parrotfish colonies that eat the seaweed. Unfortunately, however, these are also under threat.

"We need to manage them as a fishery and maintain large numbers of these fish. The ability of a reef to recover is much more difficult if you remove parrotfish," concluded Professor Mumby.
 

You’ve read it. Now review it.

Back to top

Back to top