Source: BYM News
July 3, 2009

Coral reefs are in decline around the world. A report issued last month states that the overall live coral cover for reefs in the Florida Keys has diminished by 50 to 80 percent in the past ten years. Many factors have influenced the decline of coral reefs, including climate change, overfishing, nutrient pollution, vessel impacts, invasive species, and disease. Scientists say that 20 percent of the world's coral reefs have already been destroyed, and another 24 percent may be lost within our lifetime if human impacts on corals are not reduced.

In response, a coalition of 44 marine conservation and stakeholder groups and more than 100 marine scientists has formed to ask the White House and U.S. Congress to undertake measures to support coral reef conservation.

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