While the Earth has only warmed around 0.74 degrees Celsius over the
last 100 years, this small temperature increase is affecting ocean
ecosystems and could impact upon the global marine tourism industry.
Coral reef tourism has a global value of US$36 billion per year, according to a scientific study mapping the global value and distribution of coral reef tourism. This study, published in the Marine Policy journal in August 2017, concluded that 30 percent of the world’s reefs are valuable to tourism.
Indonesia has a thriving coral reef tourism industry and also has the
second largest manta ray tourism industry in the world, with an annual
value of over $15 million.
While coral bleaching events and ocean acidification are
well-documented effects of climate change, there are other stressors
upon coral reefs that could undermine these valuable tourism industries.
Sea level rises, leading to coastal erosion, plus stronger and more
frequent storms typical of the current climate, smother and destroy
coral reef structures. Heavy rainfall cause land-based pollutants and
nutrients to wash into the ocean, resulting in algal blooms and a
reduction in available light at reefs. Changing ocean currents also
affect reefs, by altering the connectivity of geographically distant
reefs and water temperature profiles. These changes can lead to a lack
of food sources and interrupt reef species’ ability to breed.
If left unchecked, these complex effects could reduce the value of
marine tourism significantly as the quality of world-class Indonesian
dive sites and idyllic tourism destinations deteriorate.
Thankfully a new global partnership to conserve the ocean, announced
at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Jan. 25, should help
address this. This new partnership, Friends of Ocean Action, will
consist of leaders in science, technology, business and non-governmental
groups aiming to deliver the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.
Individuals can also do their part to minimize the effects of climate
change by reducing their carbon footprint. Measures such as driving
less, reducing waste and purchasing energy efficient appliances or light
bulbs are easy ways to help. Indonesia’s coral reefs can be protected
with simple measures such as using fewer garden chemicals that may
run-off into the ocean, choosing sustainable seafood and practicing good reef etiquette.
