Angel Azul

When it comes to coral reefs, it is time for people to wake up. At least half of all coral reefs have been lost and it is estimated that in 50 years 70-80% will be gone. So, what is being done to stop this? Angel Azul follows the personal story of Jason DeCaires Taylor as he creates artificial coral reefs through sculptures in Mexico.  Coral reefs are facing grave dangers especially from global warming and excess pollutants. Taylor's underwater art galleries act as an alternative location for the numerous tourists that typically flock to natural coral reefs, often unknowingly damaging them.

The materials that Jason uses for his sculptures mimic that of a rock, and attract all sorts of vibrant corals.  But even these sculptures can be disrupted by human harm. When sewage is allowed to flow into bodies of water, an excess amount of nitrates and phosphates build and algae replaces the fragile coral. Taylor found this to be the culprit when the sculptures started to be overtaken by algae in places like Cancun. Another way of stating this problem is that what people flush down the toilet can often be what they end up swimming in. That is something most hotels won't want to tell you.

Sewage water standards are made around humans. But, what most people don't know is that a person can drink water that has 1000 times more nitrates than coral reefs can handle. In other words, our regulations allow for way too much nitrogen in the ocean. A way to fix this is through Tertiary Sewage Treatment. Through this form, a plant absorbs the excess bad nutrients and allows for such clean water that animals can happily drink it.

Check out Angel Azul's website to learn more.

(Excess Nitrites occur when dolphins are contained in relatively small space for tourist's pleasure. Their excrete that normally would spread throughout the ocean instead remains in tight quarters, and therefore causes algae blooms.)