Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Devastation caused by crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Devastation caused by crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Devastation caused by crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Marine debris on the reef

Marine debris. A former coral reef strewn with trash.

Marine debris. Ghost fishing gear on a reef

Marine debris. Ghost fishing gear on a reef

Marine debris. Plastic debris on a reef.

Marine debris. Remnants of ghost fishing gear

Marine debris. Dead tire on dead reef

Marine debris. Ghost fishing gear enveloping and killing coral. Large brown sea cucumber in upper left is unaware of destruction of habitat.

Marine debris. Ghost fishing gear on a reef.

Marine debris. Ghost fishing gear on reef but also possible entanglement hazard for large marine creatures.

Marine debris. Ghost net still posing a potential entanglement hazard for large marine animals.

Marine debris. Plastic and metallic debris on a reef.

Marine debris. A beach blanket wrapped around coral. To see effects of this, proceed to image reef3142.

Marine debris. Showing the effect of a beach blanket wrapped around coral. Note all of the dead area where the beach blanket in image reef3141 was wrapped around the coral.

Careless dispersal of garbage in coastal regions can lead directly to degradation of the marine environment.

Careless dispersal of garbage in coastal regions can lead directly to degradation of the marine environment.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps.

Result of standing on staghorn coral. See image reef3149.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps. See image reef3148.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps. See image reef3148.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps. Note snorkeler in background.

Damage to coral in areas of concentrated dive tourism.

Diver remaining above reef.

Divers looking and enjoying without disturbing the reef.

Diver ready to photograph and looking and enjoying without disturbing the reef.

Divers looking and enjoying without disturbing the reef.

Make sure not to touch the bottom when snorkeling or scuba diving.

Make sure not to touch the bottom when snorkeling or scuba diving.

Make sure not to touch the bottom when snorkeling or scuba diving.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps.

Make sure not to touch the bottom when snorkeling or scuba diving.

Dive tourism can place additional stress on reefs. Standing on or handling live corals can damage or even kill the coral polyps.

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