A SPECIAL REEF BY ALBERTO FRISCIONE C

Afew weeks ago, I was invited by Dr. Maricarmen García, director of the Puerto Morelos marine park, to visit a very special reef, which is considered a research area. After sailing for about an hour, we arrived at the site. When I entered the water, I was surprised by the beauty that beheld my eyes: entire colonies of elkhorn corals, deerhorn corals, brain corals and many others. While observing them, I remembered an article published by biologist Juan José Morales (may he rest in peace). He talks about the future of reefs.

He says that coral reefs are one of the most valuable tourist assets in the Mexican Caribbean, where we have the second longest coral barrier in the world, after Australia.

He also says that a third of the main reefs in the world are threatened with extinction. In addition, their growth rate has decreased in recent times, while the rate of destruction of coral reefs has increased.

Researchers say that of the 704 species of coral that live in mares around the world, 231 are considered critically endangered, threatened or vulnerable. Ten years ago, only 16 of these species were found in one of these three categories. Especially the so-called elkhorn, deerhorn and brain corals, among others.

The main factors that affect the reefs are: global warming, overfishing, excess visitors, sewage discharges, as well as the destruction of mangroves and other wetlands with which the reef has a close relationship. .

The disappearance of the reefs would be very serious, since they are home to a quarter of all marine animal species in the world, in addition to their ecological and economic importance.

But not all is lost, because after seeing Dr. Maricarmen García and her team taking action in favor of the reef, I think we still have a chance to see our reefs reborn.

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