United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4504F)
EPA 842-F-98-008
July 1998
and Your
7\ watershed is an area
in which water,
sediments, and
dissolved material drain
to a common outlet,
such as a river, lake, bay
or ocean.
' oral reefs are among the world's richest ecosystems, second only to tropical rain
forests in plant and animal diversity. However, they are extremely sensitive
environments that have special temperature, salinity, light; oxygen, and nutrient
requirements. If environmental conditions fall outside the acceptable range of these
requirements, the health and dynamics of a coral reef community can be severely dis-
rupted..That's why coral commu-
nities are sensitive indicators of
water quality and-the ecological
health of the coastal watershed.
They respond to alterations within
the entire coastal watershed, such
as changes in freshwater flows and
nutrient inputs. Consequently,
pollution from the destruction and
alteration of surrounding coastal
watersheds can directly affect the
health and productivity of a coral
reef.
What Are Coral Heels
and What Do They Oof
Coral reef ecosystems are
unique, biologically diverse
systems recognized as valuable economic and environmental resources. Many people
think coral reefs are made of plants or rocks, but they are actually made of animals! A
coral polyp is a delicate, limestone-secreting animal. The limestone serves as a skeleton
that either is embedded within the living tissue of the coral or encloses the animal. A
coral reef is made up of colonies of these coral polyps.
There are several benefits of coral reefs.
• Coral reefs are an important recreational and aesthetic resource for people visiting or
living in coastal areas. People use coral reefs for fishing, underwater photography,
scuba diving, and snorkeling.
• Coral reefs provide protection jp.r harbors and beaches, which are often found behind
reefs because the reefs provide natural protection from heavy wave action caused by
coastal storms.
• Coral reefs are home to a number of species offish and other marine
species, including many that we rely on for food and economic purposes.
• Coral reefs also serve as a laboratory for students and scientists to study
and learn about complex ecological and biological processes. In addition,
the reefs yield many biological treasures that are increasingly being
recognized as natural sources of biomedical chemicals.
Some Impacts on Coral Reefs
Coral reef habitats are extremely sensitive to disturbances, such as
various forms of pollution and physical contact. Pollution of coastal
watersheds poses a threat to the existence of coral reefs. Impacts
can result from activities occurring near the reef itself or from areas
within the coastal watershed that drain to the reef. Disturbances and pollution
can lead to diseases in coral such as bleaching (when the algae that give corals their color
die). Natural occurrences, such as hurricanes, can adversely impact coral reefs through
Coral polyps
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high-energy storm surges and the resulting resuspension of sediment.
However, reefs are usually able to recover from natural disturbances.
People using the reef can have an adverse impact on reef resources.
Portions of a coral reef can be broken by the impact of boat anchors and
boat groundings. Divers and snorkelers can harm the reef by simply touching it
or by removing the corals. Suntan oil from swimmers and snorkelers can
harm or even kill sensitive corals. Dragging hooks, fishing line, and nets
across the coral reef, as well as placing and recovering lobster traps on
reefs, can be damaging. Overfishing also harms coral reefs by removing
important species that eat the algae growing on corals. When these fish
species are removed, the algae overgrow the corals, smothering them.
Marine debris, trash floating on the ocean or resting on the ocean floor,
comes from many sources, including boaters, divers, improper disposal of trash
on land, storm water runoff to rivers and streams, ships and other vessels, and offshore oil
platforms. Marine debris can harm fish species and other aquatic organisms that use the reef.
Trash that lands on the reef can kill corals by continually rubbing against it or smothering it.
An excessive amount of nutrients from improperly treated sewage, atmospheric
deposition, agricultural and urban runoff, and cleaning products high in phosphates can
harm coral reef habitats. In excess levels, nutrients overstimulate the growth of aquatic plants
and algae. When nutrient levels increase, the delicate balance that exists between corals
and algae is destroyed and the algae can overgrow the corals. When this situation is
prolonged, the corals are smothered and die beneath the algal carpet. This, in turn, affects
the fish and other aquatic organisms using the area, leading to a decrease in animal and plant
diversity and affecting use of the water for fishing and swimming.
Some of the leading causes of nearshore coral decline can be related to land develop-
ment and nearshore construction that are not environmentally sensitive. Sediment, silt, and
other suspended solids wash off plowed fields, construction and logging sites, urban areas,
strip-mined land, and eroded stream banks when it rains. Increases in coastal sediment are
also caused by construction of seawalls, docks, and marinas; land-clearing; boats running
Coral reefs are sensitive
indicators of water quality
and the ecological health of
the coastal watershed.
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through shallow waters, disturbing and suspending silts with their propellers; and
shorkelers and divers kicking up sediment. Sediment can block sunlight that is essential for
the survival of some corals, which live in a very close relationship with microscopic plants
(algae) that require sunlight to survive. In addition, heavy sedimentation can bury corals,
inhibiting their growth or killing them.
Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
Pathogens are harmful to corals, causing disease and scarring
in many species. These microorganisms enter water bodies
from sources such as: inadequately treated sewage, storm
water drains, septic systems, runoff from livestock pens,,and
boats that discharge sewage.
Coral reefs are vulnerable to the introduction of a wide
variety of toxic substances, including metals (such as mercury
and lead), toxic organic chemicals (such as PCBs and dioxin),
pesticides, and herbicides found in sources like industrial
discharges, urban and agricultural runoff, mining activities,
and runoff from landfills. Some toxic substances bind to
sediment and are transported to coastal waters through
sedimentation. These toxic'substances can cause scarring, ....... ...... ,„„,„„„.„._,„
death, or reproductive failure in fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms. In addition, they
can accumulate in fish tissue, leading to fish consumption advisories. The sensitivity of
corals makes them especially vulnerable to the introduction of toxic substances.
What Is EPA Doing to Protect Coral Reefs?
International Coral Reef Initiative—\r\ 1994, EPA, along with the State Department,
_the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of the Interior,
formed an international coalition to coordinate information and bring higher visibility to the
need for coral reef ecosystem preservation. The coalition became the International Coral
Reef Initiative (ICRI), which now includes a membership of more than 90 countries.
EPA's Watershed Approach—EPA has joined with others to promote the Water-
shed Approach nationally as a means to further restore and maintain the physical, chemical,
and biological quality of our nation's waters, including coral reefs. By addressing issues on a
watershed scale, those areas that pose the greatest risk to human and ecological health can
be targeted, several pollutants can be addressed at one time, the public can be involved in
cleaning up the environment and protecting coral habitats, and integrated solutions for
environmental protection can be considered. This is particularly important given the
contribution of activities and sources of pollution within the larger watershed to the decline
of coral reefs. Through the Watershed Approach, integrated coastal zone manage-
ment tools and watershed concepts can be applied in the development of compre-
hensive management and conservation plans. The Watershed Approach aims to
determine protective approaches for controlling identified stressors to coral reef
ecosystems. EPA's Coastal Watershed Protection Strategy specifically provides
technical assistance and support to priority coastal watersheds, such as National -
Estuary Programs (NEPs) and other coastal waters identified by states.
Other EPA Programs—-In assisting coastal states with the development of
their Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs, EPA and other federal agencies
developed guidance specifying management measures for sources of nonpoint
pollution (diffuse runoff of pollutants) in coastal waters. In its program, a state or
territory describes how it will implement nonpoint source pollution controls. EPA
also works with other federal agencies to protect human health and coral reefs by
reducing marine debris. The efforts include the establishment of the National Marine
Debris Monitoring Program, which looks at the origins and amounts of marine debris
deposited along U.S. coasts. EPA and the Coast Guard work together to regulate the
transportation of municipal and commercial waste on vessels and to issue regula-
tions for the manufacture, maintenance, and efficiency of marine sanitation devices
(boat toilets), as well as the establishment of "no discharge zones" for vessel
sewage. EPA also regulates the discharge of pollutants from facilities into sensitive
marine waters. EPA assists states in the development of water quality standards
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designed to protect human health and aquatic life. This assistance includes the development
of criteria for water quality that accurately reflects the most up-to-date scientific knowledge
about the effects of pollutants on aquatic life, such as corals, and human health.
What Can You Do to Help Protect Coral Reefs?
Xou can do several things to help protect coral reefs and your coastal watershed:
• Be informed and involved. Learn about coral reefs and their importance to your
coastal watershed. Participate in training or educational programs that focus on reef
ecology. Be an informed consumer; ask the store owner or manager from what
country the coral was taken and whether that country has a management plan to
ensure that the harvest was legal and sustainable over time. Support the creation
and maintenance of marine parks and reserves. Become a citizen volunteer. As a
volunteer you might be involved in taking water quality measurements,
tracking the progress of protection and restoration projects, or reporting
special events like fish kills and storm damage. Volunteer for a reef cleanup or
a beach cleanup. If you don't live near a coast, get involved in your local
watershed program. Report dumping or other illegal activities.
• Take responsibility for your own backyard. Determine whether
additional nutrients or pesticides are needed before you apply them, and look
for alternatives to fertilizers and pesticides where the^chance of runoff into surface
waters might occur. Even if you live far from a coral reef ecosystem, these products
might ultimately affect the waters that support coral. Consider selecting plants and
grasses with low maintenance requirements. Water your lawn conservatively; the less
water you use, the less runoff will eventually find its way into the oceans.
Practice good housekeeping. Learn about procedures for disposing of harmful
household wastes so they do not end up in sewage treatment plants that can't treat
them or in landfills not designed to receive hazardous materials. Around the house,
keep litter, pet waste, leaves, and grass clippings out of street gutters and storm
drains to prevent their entrance into streams that might flow to reefs. Use the
minimum amount of water needed when you wash your car to prevent waste and
runoff. Never dump any household, automotive, or gardening wastes into a storm
drain. They might end up on the reef. Take used motor oil, paints, and other hazard-
ous household materials to proper collection sites such as approved service stations
or designated landfills. Always follow label directions for the use and disposal of
household chemicals. Keep your septic tank in good working order. The improper
disposal of wastes and hazardous materials can lead to water quality problems and
harm to the sensitive coral reef habitats.
Respect the reef. Help keep the reef healthy by following local guidelines, recom-
mendations, regulations, and customs. If you dive, don't touch the coral. Keep your •
fins, gear, and hands away from the coral since this contact can hurt you and will
damage the delicate coral animals. Stay off the bottom because stirred-up sediment
can settle on corals and smother them. Avoid entering sensitive habitat areas with
your boat or other motorized watercraft. Maintain your boat engine to prevent oil and
gas leaks. Keep all waste produced during your excursions in a safe place to be
disposed of properly when you're back on land. If you go boating near a coral reef,
don't anchor your boat on the reef. Use mooring buoy systems if they are available.
Maintain and use your marine sanitation devices properly. Conserve energy and keep
your auto in good running condition. By conserving energy, harmful air emissions
leading to air deposition are minimized.
For additional information ...
Call EPA's Oceans and Coastal Protection Division at (202) 260-1952 or
visit EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/oceans/coraI.
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