Oil spills and Coral reefs

Crude oil spills are one of the most damaging environmental disasters that there can be. It can have a hugely detrimental effect on the area, and coral reefs are particularly susceptible. The use of Spill Kits like the ones available from https://hydepark-environmental.com/spill-response/spill-kits can help support spills that occur on land. So what can happen to a coral reef if it comes into contact with the coral reef?

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Coral is an underwater home for an abundance of creatures. It also provides a hunting ground for others reliant on the fish that gather on a reef for food. The oil reaches the reef in a number of ways. Firstly it can sink down for a spill. Oil is denser than water and will start to seep down to the sea bed.  Secondly, it can be dragged onto the reef via storms, or it becomes mixed in with the general sand and sediment that is on the ocean floor. This embeds itself into the coral reef. In all cases, this sickens the coral.

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If the oil really gets into the coral, it can start to cause significant damage. First of all, it stops the growth of new coral. If this happens, the reef becomes overcrowded, and the other species start to suffer. Fragile creatures such as crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates suffer development loss and also begin to decrease.