Stricter regulations on fishing should be introduced in certain parts of the world, as currently it is being carried out at an unsustainable level that is damaging to the reefs. If corals are to continue to thrive fishing must be carried out at a sustainable level via improved management. Studies based on an existing bio-economic model, the Gordon-Schaefer model, show that in many regions where fishing exceeds recruitment a reduction in fishing of approximately 60% is needed in order for fish stocks to return to a steady equilibrium. A complete ban on blast fishing would also be beneficial due to its direct destructive effects on the coral reefs and their organisms.
Finally, advances in waste management should be made, especially in China, which, due to its rapid industrialisation, is the main contributor to the pollution of coral reefs. However, in reality, due to the political situation in the country, and the speed of industrialisation, major reductions in pollution in the near future seem unlikely.
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