VI. Future Prospects

 The future remains bleak for the Red Sea ecosystem if it proceeds on the same path, and nothing is done to combat the destructive influence that humans inflict. Continuous interference with the ecosystem, (oil pollution and overfishing), will lead to a reduction of complexity. Additionally it will lead to deep alteration of the ecosystem and habitat on the coral reeds. If this interference (oil pollution and overfishing) does not stop in time, the entire ecosystem will be destroyed.  However, if it does stop in time, recovery can begin to take place. As we know, algae are able to store and reuse large amounts of phosphorus, so even if the impact of phosphate from other sources stop in the near future, the remainder of it can be found in the vegetation, and therefore it will continue to stimulate the algal cover. As for diving, this problem is labeled as critical, and if management practices are not enforced, these reefs are predicted to collapse within 20 years.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/red-sea-oil-spill-may-have-cairo-reduce-offshore-drills-37929.html

[1] Fishelson, Lev. "Ecology of Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) Influenced by Pollution." Oecologia 12.1 (1973): 55-67. Print.

[2] "IUCN - Red Sea, White Coral?" IUCN - Home. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. <http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/marine/marine_our_work/climate_change/?3857/Red-Sea-White-Coral>.

[3]"Red Sea Large Marine Ecosystem." Encyclopedia of Earth. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Red_Sea_large_marine_ecosystem>.