Deep Water Coral Reefs

• Ecological features - deep water coral

  • Lack of sunlight
  • Cold water
  • Coral grows slowly because there is less energy from photosynthesis
  • Recover slowly from damage
• Importance - deep water coral 


  • Very little research into their importance
  • Support a large biomass of fish - commercial fishing
• Threats - deep water coral


  • Deep water trawling
  • Expansion of oil and gas exploration
  • Increased carbon dioxide causing the acidification of the oceans
• Conservation efforts - deep water coral

  Protected areas have been established to stop damaging activities like trawling.