Can we really save the coral reefs?

I was browsing through different Op-Eds looking for something that would catch my eye and I found an editorial titled "We Can Save the Caribbean's Coral Reefs" by Jeremy Jackson and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. The article talked about how the prevention of fishing for parrotfish has helped increase the coral population in some areas. The parrotfish are crucial to the coral's survival because they prevent the algae and seaweed from becoming overgrown throughout the reef. However, the rising levels of carbon dioxide have been increasing the ocean water's level of acidity making the environment less coral friendly.

In my AP Environmental Science class, I recently researched an article from National Geographic that also pertained to this specific subject.  The article explained how our levels of carbon dioxide emissions have increased more in 2013 than in the past thirty years.  It also mentioned how our atmosphere is predicted to be nearing its greenhouse gas absorption levels.  What will happen to our environment then?

"We Can Save the Caribbean's Coral Reefs"  suggests that we drop all forms of overfishing in the parrotfish and coral waters.  The reefs themselves provide the area with about 3 billion dollars each year through tourism and fishing.  However, their proposal also required the prevention of over development and pollution or the area.  The climate change due to the pollution in the air.

Although their strategies seem to make it possible for coral recovery, there is no certainty that the depletion of fishing itself will work.  There certainly is no promise of any decrease in the pollution in the air.  With the rapid rate of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas increase the I see no immediate change for the climate.  

It was proven in the article that in certain areas reducing the fishing alone will not always result in the increase of coral health.  The environment is the real factor in this problem.  Instead of focusing on the prevention of fishing in the area, preservationists should be working on reducing the pollution around the reefs to help regulate the climate.