My Persuasive Essay on Coral.

So this is my persuasive essay on why the destruction of coral reefs is bad (like anyone needs convincing) and how you can help!
WARNING: It's very sarcastic, and I'm sure I could have been more descriptive. But you may learn something!
It's actually 3 pages long. It's looks really short on here. Enjoy!
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The Destruction of Coral Reefs
By Chance C. Kristo


When people think of coral, they think of the sharp rocks they step on when they’re on vacation. When in reality, what they are stepping on is hundreds of living organisms. Each little polyp or head is an individual living animal. Well you probably just killed hundreds of innocent little corals.


But stepping on the coral at the beach isn’t the only thing that’s killing them. People all around the world are killing corals simply by driving to work every day. Air pollution contributes to increased temperatures and UV Rays from the sun. What this does, is kills the micro-algae called Zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae is photosynthetic, and has a symbiotic relationship with the tissue of the coral, which not only feeds the coral, but gives the coral it’s color. The Zooxanthellae and tissue die after extended periods of time exposed to extreme light. This leaves the white calcium based skeleton in a graveyard like forest of coral on the ocean floor. In short, this is called coral bleaching. It’s happening as you read this, and you probably didn’t know.


Why should you care? Why does this matter to you? The rainforest is getting cut down as you read this too! Well fun fact, The Ocean contains 50 percent of all living things on the planet (What percentage of life is estimated to be in the ocean?), and coral reefs contain 25 percent of all life in the Ocean (NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Promoting Economic Vitality). That twenty five percent covers less than 0.2 percent of the Ocean’s floor (Coral Reefs).


Fantastic, I have your attention now! How can you help stop this, ask you? Well, simply driving less, turning lights off when you leave the room, simple things people tell you to do ALL THE TIME. But that alone won’t save the Ocean; no you might need some more convincing.


When you sit down and eat your dolphin-safe tuna sandwich for lunch, you’re also helping kill all the coral. When you go into the pet store to get a “Nemo” fish, you’re most likely helping kill all the coral. But how could eating lunch and buying a Clownfish kill coral?


Well, we’ll start with lunch. The way most fish are caught in large quantities is by net. Fishing nets are drug across the Ocean floor, and coral reefs, in order to catch fish that you would see in the market on ice. This is not only done with fish, but with crab, shrimp, lobster, and anything else you eat from the sea. When the nets are drug across the bottom, it scrapes the heavy net against the coral, breaking the brittle bones of the coral.


I’m sure you’re tired of getting mad at yourself for killing all the coral. But have no fear! The answer to your clear conscious is simply eating less things that are caught in mass quantities. The less people that contribute, means less need to be caught, with means less coral needs to die!


On to Nemo. Amphiron Ocellaris, or the “False” Percula Clownfish. The way most pet stores get their livestock is from distributors that get their stock straight from the ocean. The way that the fish are gathered, is by dropping explosives, yes dynamite, into the reefs. The explosion removes EVERYTHING out of the way, and puts the fish into a stunned state. When I say everything, I mean all the coral that all of the fish live in and around, is blown up so someone can make a quick buck. Some people aren’t licensed to play with explosives (most people, actually) so some resort to chemicals! A form of cyanide is poured into the water by the gallon to knock out all the fish, in doing so, killing some of the more temperamental fish, and all of the coral, and surrounding sea life.


So next time you want to purchase a saltwater ANYTHING look for it marked as “Aquacultured”. Aquacultured may just seem like a way to spend more money. But it actually means that it’s grown by people, and raised by people to avoid this kind of mass destruction. An excellent example of this is ORA Farm (ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums). ORA raises fish, corals, crabs, and even clams to sell. And they’re beautiful! Way more colorful than anything you’ll find in the ocean due to years of selective breeding.


The great thing about buying captive bred animals and coral, is you can breed them, and sell them! Share the love, and keep the Ocean, in the Ocean.


So what have we learned here? By simply losing energy wasting habits, eating less sea life, and buying Nemo or your coral from a farm, you are helping save the ocean. The best thing about it, is you basically don’t have to do anything!


Sources
What percentage of life is estimated to be in the ocean?
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Promoting Economic Vitality
Coral Reefs
ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums
Reef Aquarium Forum | Aquarium LED Lighting Reviews | HOW TO | DIY | 3reef Reef Forum
Over one year of experience in the reef keeping hobby.

 

How much of the ocean floor will actually inhabit a coral reef, based on water depth, and temperature, etc? Your 'essay' seems to conclude that it all will.

Was this for a class or something? I'm sure a uber liberal teacher would love it.

 

haha yes exactly, i guess we all will be very biased on this sort of topic haha.

 

It's a persuasive essay that I cranked out in an hour to get 400 points. The way I had intended to write it was that Coral reefs covered .02% of the ocean's floor.

 

Oh and it's for English 12.