While many are aware of the destruction of coral reefs, not many are actually aware of the extent of this destruction. The coral reefs of the world particularly in Floridian waters and the south Caribbean Sea are in desperate need of management if it is to survive for the coming years. Already, global warming has created coral graveyards in countries, most recently in the Buccoo Reef near the island of Tobago. While coral bleaching is the result of global warming, a phenomenon that is as broad in its dimensions as the policies that are debated to curb it, the real danger to coral reefs in the South Caribbean islands is due to man-made destruction.

This man-made destruction comes in the form of tourism. Tourism is of utmost important to many Caribbean nations but because of the effect of wastes from cruise liners, destruction of the corals due to snorkeling and diving and the effects of boats that destroy shallow corals, major habitats for native fishes are being destroyed. In other words, tourism is destroying the coral reef ecosystem each year in subtle and profound ways. The purpose of this article is to outline the effects of tourism on the Buccoo Reef of Trinidad and Tobago. The Buccoo Reef is located just off the shore of Tobago, the sister isle of Trinidad. The republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a nation that has used their rich reserves of natural resources to sustain a moderate quality of life in the country and like most tropical nations; the coral reefs are one of the major tourist attractions of the country. However, one most confront the question on whether or not one should allow the tourist industry to continually exploit the Buccoo Reef for economic gain.

The most obvious damage to the coral reef ecosystem due to tourism is of course destruction of the corals themselves. Special boats known as “glass bottom” boats are used by natives in order to transport tourists from the shores to the reef itself where they usually have the option to snorkel near the shallower regions of the reef, educated about the different types of aquatic species of plants and animals present and also spend time near the Nylon Pool, an area in near the shore that is characterized by white sand and clear shallow warm waters. The concern here is the snorkeling aspect, while diving is not detrimental to the corals, snorkeling involves contact, sometimes rigorous contact with the corals resulting in its breaking up or destruction. It is an understatement to claim that corals are important for the survival of a reef and such a fact cannot be over emphasized. While other biomes on earth are dependent on green plants as their primary source of all food and therefore can be considered by some as the most important link in a food web, coral reefs are a bit different. The coral reef biome also has aquatic plants that are important for other heterotrophs but in levels of organizations in reefs, one must recognize a sublevel below producers; the corals. The corals itself act as a backbone for certain plants particularly those that enter symbiotic relationships with algae. In addition the corals provide food for many fishes that inhabit shallow corals and also are a necessary means of mullerian mimicry and aposematic coloration. These methods of defense and attack will be destroyed if even a small portion of the reef collapses due to destruction of the corals.