coral reefs

• Corals are some of the most biodiverse areas, with 25% of marine life living in coral reefs
• Some of the most abundant species in coral reefs

  • Lobsters
  • Clams
  • Seahorses
  • Sea turtles
  • Parrotfishes
• Corals


  • The main, most recognisable feature of a reef
  • Over 10,000 species of coral, on average 840 per reef
  • The coral has millions of algae which live inside, and they give the coral its unique colour
  • Corals also provide food for corallivorous fish which keeps the algae from taking over the coral completely
• According to the GCRMN's Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020 report, there has been a steady decrease in hard coral cover since 2010. The worst impacts have occurred in South Asia, Australia, the Pacific, East Asia, the Western Indian Ocean, The Gulf and Gulf of Oman
• Control of fishing


  1. The length of the fishing seasons being restricted

  2. Placing a minimum catchable size to prevent the capture of small fish, so they have a chance to grow and breed

  3. NTZ, no take zones, may be established where fishing is banned. This allows for a larger population of breeding adults to develop. The surplus young that are produced will spread out and colonise areas where fishing is permitted, increasing overall catches

  4. Restrictions placed on damaging fishing methods such as dynamite fishing, trawling, or fishing with nets with a small mesh
• EPA also supports efforts to monitor and assess the condition of U.S. coral reefs, and conducts research into the causes of coral reef
• Recreation


  Artificial reefs have been created from concrete structures such as reef balls or by sinking structures that were made for other purposes such as old ships and oil rigs. In the gulf of Mexico, several old oil rigs have been used to create artificial reefs
• Sustainable exploitation


  Exploitation may be permitted but it may be restricted to ensure it is sustainable, for example in Belize the removal of coral sea fans is regulated by CITES Appendix ll
• Belize Barrier Reef


  • 1st largest barrier reef in the Northern hemisphere (2nd largest in the world after the Great barrier reef)
  • 370 square mile area
  • Home to around 1400 species: 500 fish species, 65 stony coral species, 178 above water plant species, 247 marine flora, Endangered species like American crocodile and the world's largest population of west Indian manatees
• It is protected by many reserves and it was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996
• However, it's reefs and sea beds are being torn apart and destroyed by boats as it is still made rather accessible due to it having tourism and fishing importance
• • 100,000 to 150,000 tourists visit annually
  • It is a very large lobster and conch seafood source