Expert: Walter Hintz - 5/5/2010

Question
I am putting together an article on Coral Reefs and how they are becoming extinct. I was wondering if you could comment on this in anyway regarding your personal thoughts as to what,you thing as an expert, is killing them off(ex,water pollution,sedimentation,poor tourism)

Answer
Hi Alan;
Your question could not have come at a better time in light of the recent explosion in the gulf of Mexico. The warnings by environmentalists of the dangers of offshore drilling went unheeded and now the chickens have come home to roost. The main cause of the death of coral reefs is due to pollution.  My opinion is that all offshore drilling must cease immediately. If an oil well fails on land oil flow can be cut off but not in the ocean. I am afraid that due to the greed of the oil companies offshore drilling will continue however.
We need the ocean to stay alive. 80% of our oxygen comes from marine algae.
Although the death of some coral is normal as new coral is formed the dying has been increasing.  It is a warning sign of things to come.