BBC News School Report @ LCS

Many Coral Reefs are under attack due to the enormous amount of carbon dioxide that is located in our sea water. This prevents the coral from growing which is having a knock on effect onto the eco systems that revolve around the coral. For example, many types of fish and seahorses use the coral to survive.

coral is also being affected by a process called bleaching. This is when the water is too warm for the coral to survive and then it losses its colour and proceeds to die after a short while. The process can be reversed just before the coral dies if the water temperature falls but it may take many years for it to fully recover.

A survey conducted by the Marine Park Authority found out that 29% of coral died in 2016. If it continues at this rate coral will soon be extinct which may lead to the extinction of many other species of plant and animal life. The level of acidity of the ocean’s water is adding to the deaths of coral. This is caused by the poorly controlled amount of greenhouse gases produced.

We must help to save to coral or many species will be at risk of extinction. Here are some ways we can help coral:

• Use renewable sources of energy like solar or wind power rather than burning fossil fuels like coal or oil. This will help the coral as there will be less CO2 which can harm coral.
• Planting trees to reduce CO2. This can help the coral as it gets rid of CO2 which will help the coral as CO2 kills coral.
• Make sure you dispose of your rubbish. This will make a positive impact on the coral’s health as the rubbish can harm the coral and it could cause permanent damage or even kill the coral.