Marine ecosystem changes: Reefs in danger

It is probably fair to assume that most people living on this island would not be aware that there are coral reefs in Irish territorial waters. We usually associate these marine ecosystems with exotic locations and tropical oceans.

In fact, we have a number of such underwater treasures, the latest only discovered in 2009 on the southern end of the Porcupine Bank off the west coast.

All the more reason for marine scientists to worry about dramatic changes taking place in one reef off the Kerry coast.

Over the course of four years, a 20% change was noted by scientists, who say if the trend continues, the reefs will be entirely different in just two decades.

Coral reefs teem with life, with perhaps one-quarter of all ocean species depending on them. As well as that, they are one of the last untapped reservoirs of biological compounds that could be used in the development of new anti-viral or anti-bacterial pharmaceuticals.

The researchers are not clear what is causing the transformation, but climate change is one theory.