42. Gracias mil a John Cosby y Darryl Stansbury para el uso de sus photos.
Editor's Notes
Human-caused, or anthropogenic activities are major threats to coral reefs. Pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing practices using dynamite or cyanide, collecting live corals for the aquarium market and mining coral for building materials are some of the many ways that people damage reefs all around the world every day. One of the most significant threats to reefs is pollution . Land-based runoff and pollutant discharges can result from dredging, coastal development, agricultural and deforestation activities, and sewage treatment plant operations. This runoff may contain sediments, nutrients, chemicals, insecticides, oil, and debris. When some pollutants enter the water, nutrient levels can increase, promoting the rapid growth of algae and other organisms that can smother corals Most industrial discharges are connected to Regional Waste Water Treatment Plants (RWWTP), which are administered by the Puerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority (PRASA). Five RWWTPs discharge disinfected (chlorinated) primary-treated effluent via submarine outfalls to the marine environment in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act, Section 301(h). Another potentially relevant source of pollution to the coastal waters of Puerto Rico results from the operation of thermoelectric power plants as large volumes of seawater are used to cool the machinery.
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