Location: Western Pacific Ocean, encompassing waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the Solomon Islands.
Incredible Biodiversity: Home to 600 coral species, 6 of the world's 7 marine turtle species, and over 2,000 reef fish species.
Economic Lifeline: Supports a massive tuna industry and provides food, income, and coastal protection for over 120 million people.
Challenges Facing the Coral Triangle
Unsustainable Fishing: Overfishing and destructive fishing practices are depleting fish stocks and damaging the delicate reef ecosystem.
Climate Change: Rising ocean temperatures lead to coral bleaching, and increasing storm intensity damages reefs and coastal communities.
Balancing Needs: The challenge is to find ways to protect this vital ecosystem while ensuring the livelihoods and food security of millions who depend on it.
FAQs: Understanding the Issues
FAQ 1: Why is the Coral Triangle called the "Amazon of the Seas"?
It's a biodiversity hotspot. Just like the Amazon rainforest teems with life, the Coral Triangle boasts an incredible variety of marine species.
FAQ 2: How does overfishing harm the Coral Triangle?
Depleted Fish Stocks: Taking fish faster than they can reproduce threatens the food supply for both people and the marine ecosystem as a whole.
Ecosystem Imbalance: Removing certain fish species disrupts the food chain, potentially leading to harmful algal blooms or other negative consequences.
Bycatch: Destructive fishing methods catch and kill non-target species, including turtles, sharks, and other important marine life.
FAQ 3: How does climate change affect coral reefs?
Coral Bleaching: Warmer waters stress corals, causing them to expel the algae they rely on, turning them white and often leading to death.
Ocean Acidification: Rising carbon dioxide levels make seawater more acidic, harming corals and other shell-building organisms.
FAQ 4: What can be done to protect the Coral Triangle?
Sustainable Fishing Practices: Implementing catch limits, banning destructive methods, and creating marine protected areas are essential.
Climate Change Action: Reducing global carbon emissions is crucial to protect coral reefs from rising temperatures.
Community Involvement: Empowering local communities to manage their resources sustainably leads to better outcomes.
SRIRAM's
Share:
Get a call back
Fill the below form to get free counselling for UPSC Civil Services exam preparation
