Pollution Puts Coral Reefs off Florida's Coast in Peril ; Agricultural Run-Off and Sewage Encourage Algae

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Forty-two madrepore corals were dead, counted during an hour- long dive 50 feet down in the Atlantic waters off Boynton Beach, Fla. Others were half-dead, with stark white patches on otherwise healthy animals.

Coral reefs everywhere are in peril. Many reefs are dead, some are dying, and most are subjected to pollution. How that extermination process is taking place along the coast of America's only continental reef structure, is a story of overpopulation, greed, and negligence.

Scientific base research of the reefs will take years, experts say. But anecdotal evidence reported by concerned divers is urgently warning of the demise of America's last frontier, …