ViewpointInforming policy to protect coastal coral reefs: Insight from a global review of reducing agricultural pollution to coastal ecosystems

- Globally, coral reefs are increasingly being threatened by agricultural pollution.
- We review global examples of reduced agricultural pollution to coastal ecosystems.
- We find that transformative change for coastal ecosystem outcomes is achievable.
- We make four recommendations for coral reef policy based on the insights gained.
- Implementing these recommendations will increase the resilience of coral reefs.

The continuing degradation of coral reefs has serious consequences for the provision of ecosystem goods and services to local and regional communities. While climate change is considered the most serious risk to coral reefs, agricultural pollution threatens approximately 25% of the total global reef area with further increases in sediment and nutrient fluxes projected over the next 50 years. Here, we aim to inform coral reef management using insights learned from management examples that were successful in reducing agricultural pollution to coastal ecosystems. We identify multiple examples reporting reduced fluxes of sediment and nutrients at end-of-river, and associated declines in nutrient concentrations and algal biomass in receiving coastal waters. Based on the insights obtained, we recommend that future protection of coral reef ecosystems demands policy focused on desired ecosystem outcomes, targeted regulatory approaches, up-scaling of watershed management, and long-term maintenance of scientifically robust monitoring programs linked with adaptive management.