In the words of H.A. Lessios (1988a), what have we learned from all this? Clearly, the coral reef ecosystems of the Caribbean are very sensitive to stresses from both human and nonhuman disturbances. The mass mortality of Diadema antillarum was, in part, a result of human interference in a delicately balanced ecosystem. Although there may be some debate as to whether the Caribbean coral reefs can be restored to their previous condition, there is no doubt that humans need to take better care of the reefs in order to avoid further catastrophes in the future.

The same human causes which contributed to the demise of D. Antillarum are also having continuously negative effects on other aspects of the Caribbean coral reefs. The death of so many urchins was merely a sign of a larger problem. In order to allow any significant recovery in the reefs, humans must intervene, at least in the form of limiting other human actions. Specifically, fishing restrictions need to be put in place and enforced, at least in certain areas, in order to replenish stocks that are continually being depleted by fishing elsewhere. Furthermore, fishing restrictions could help balance the natural control mechanisms that help the reefs to recover from naturally destructive processes, such as storms and disease.

In sum, the choice that faces conservationists today is not between improvement and stagnation, because inaction on the part of conservationists will allow continued harm on the part of other humans. Rather, the choice is between recovery and further damage. As has already been demonstrated, recovery will be a long and arduous process, and may not in the end restore the previous state of the reefs, but abandonment of the recovery process at any intermediate stage may cause these ecosystems to slip back into the problems that afflict them now. This continual decline, if it is not already so, may soon become unrecoverable. For this reason, swift action is necessary now to begin the recovery effort.