Effects of Overfishing in Coral Reefs

Around the world, coral reefs are under assault from a multitude of sources, depending on their location. Coral reefs have been damaged directly through harmful pesticides such as coral mining, fishing with dynamite and overfishing.In 1992, Australian reef Ecologist Clive Wilkinson estimated that approximately 10% of the world were already severely degraded, he predicted the figure would rise from 10% to 30% within the next two decades.
Research shows overfishing of sharks are a key factor in coral reefs decline, when sharks are over fished, a cascade of effects can lead into a depletion of important fish such as groupers - causing an increase in their numbers and their ability to prey parrot fishes. The removal of plant eating animals such as parrot fishes has been partly responsible for the shift of Caribbean reefs from coral to algae dominated. This overfishing of sharks may contribute further to the loss of resistance of coral reefs to multiply human disturbance.