Although famous for their vibrant colors, coral reefs all over the world are at risk of losing their color. Thus, the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) reached out to the Australian government for help.
They sent a letter on Saturday to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The ISRS asked him to aggressively protect the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef and also the largest living thing on earth. Plus, it is the only living thing on earth visible from space. As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, numerous tourists go there.
Hence, the letter urges Turnbell to assertively reduce Australia’s carbon footprint. High levels of carbon dioxide in the water contributes to coral bleaching. It is when a coral turns completely white because the algae within them left. It typically occurs when the water temperature is too high. When that happens, the coral is at a very vulnerable stage.
Therefore, current and past presidents of the ISRS signed the letter on behalf of 2,000 scientists and policy makers. The call for action is a result of the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium. It was held in Honolulu, Hawaii last week.
According to LATimes.com, the letter said this year’s mass bleaching is the worst in history. In late February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the global bleaching event is the “longest global coral die-off on record.”
About 93 percent of the Great Barrier Reef was bleached as of this April according to EarthSky.org. “The once-colorful ribbons of reef are ghostly white,” reported ABC Reporter Peter McCutcheon.
However, bleaching will hit the United States the hardest according to NOAA. They also said more than 70 percent of the United States’ coral reefs have been prolonged to high water temperatures.
