TOEFL Integrated Writing Practice Test 004Coral Reefs

Hard structures, like natural reefs, serve as excellent habitats for marine life across the world’s oceans. Reefs offer sturdy surfaces for plants, coral, and sponges to attach to, creating both food sources and shelter for various fish species. Recently, the fishing industry has attempted to expand these habitats by building artificial reefs from discarded metal objects and other industrial materials, placing them in coastal waters. These artificial reefs offer several advantages.

Many fishers believe that artificial reefs help increase fish populations by providing additional locations for fish to gather and reproduce. For example, an artificial reef project in the Gulf of Mexico reported a significant increase in red snapper catches—up to ten times more than a century ago. This rise in fish numbers occurred after the implementation of the artificial reef initiative.

Artificial reefs also offer economic benefits, especially to small-scale fishers. By constructing private artificial reefs in undisclosed locations, small fishers gain a competitive edge. Currently, small-scale fishers struggle to compete with larger fishing corporations due to the limited number of shared fishing grounds. By creating fishing areas that only they know about, independent fishers can better sustain themselves and their communities.

Lastly, artificial reefs provide an effective way to recycle unused materials. Old cars and other objects, after being cleaned of harmful substances, can be transformed into reefs. This practice is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method of reusing materials while simultaneously benefiting marine ecosystems.