Those of you who are lucky enough to have been scuba diving or snorkelling (or if you’ve seen Finding Nemo!) will know coral reefs are beautiful underwater ecosystems; practically buzzing with life. Like a busy underwater neighbourhood bustling with life, on a healthy coral reef you’ll see fish, crabs, eels, shrimp and many other critters going about their business. And don’t forget that the coral polyps themselves – which make up a coral reef – are actually animals (despite looking a bit like colourful rocks or beautiful underwater plants).

But other than being pretty cool to see on a dive, you might be wondering what’s so important about reefs, anyway? And why is it so important for us to protect them? Wonder no more – here are just a few reasons we should all care about coral reefs…

They provide vital habitats for marine life

You might have heard of coral reefs being described like ‘rainforests of the sea’. That’s because of the astounding biodiversity of these underwater ecosystems: they might only cover a tiny section of the planet (0.1% of the ocean) but they support a quarter of all marine species. They are one of the most valuable ecosystems on the planet.

Coral reefs are vital habitats for thousands of species of fish, invertebrates, mammals and other organisms who depend upon them for food, shelter and protection as well as nursery and spawning grounds. Without coral reefs, many fish and marine animals wouldn’t be able to survive and there would be a serious imbalance in the wider ocean ecosystem.

They protect the coastline

You might think of coral reefs as only benefiting the underwater environment but they help the coastlines and shores too. By acting as a natural breakwater, coral reefs help to dissipate the force of waves; minimising their impact during extreme weather events, such as storms, tsunamis, typhoons or hurricanes, and reducing the damage they inflict on the shoreline and the coastal communities living there (not to mention mangroves and seagrass beds). Reefs also provide a source of sand to replenish beaches and prevent erosion.

They provide food for millions of people

Millions of people around the world live near coral reefs and, for many of these coastal communities, fish is the primary source of protein. According to the United Nations, around one billion people globally depend on coral reefs for their food and livelihoods.

By providing a home and nursery ground to a vast number of marine species, which are harvested by both commercial and subsistence fisheries, coral reefs provide food for millions. A well-managed reef can provide around 15 tonnes of seafood per square kilometre each year and, without them, millions of people around the world would lose their main source of food and income.

They are a stunning tourist attraction

Anyone who has been scuba diving, freediving or snorkelling on a coral reef will know, first-hand, what an incredible tourist attraction they are. Many divers are so fascinated by these magical underwater ecosystems that they will plan holidays year after year just to dive some of the world’s most beautiful reefs and admire the marine life there. According to PADI, one million new scuba divers are certified each year and millions more go snorkelling on reefs around the world (not to mention non-water sports lovers who, nonetheless, love to relax on a pristine white sandy beach) – reef tourism is a huge industry. If managed sustainably, marine tourism to coral reef regions can be a hugely beneficial to coastal communities around the world; particularly in remote areas or developing countries.

They boost the economy

Globally, coral reefs generate billions of dollars and millions of jobs (for example through food and tourism). Just think of all the coastal communities whose economies are boosted by global visitors coming to enjoy their coral reefs: as well as the tour guides and boat crew, the accommodation providers, restaurant staff and other leisure and entertainment providers all benefit from the guests staying in their tropical destination.

They are crucial in the development of new medicines

You might be surprised to learn that if you’ve had treatment for things like asthma, arthritis ulcers or heart disease you might have been unknowingly benefiting from coral reefs! This is because many species found in reef ecosystems (remember that astounding biodiversity we talked about?) provide the source to develop new medicines. In fact, marine organisms that depend upon reefs have been used to develop treatments for a whole host of diseases and illnesses including cancer, HIV, bacterial infections, viruses and even to ease labour – in addition to those mentioned above.

Yet, despite all the benefits they provide us, coral reefs are under threat…

Sadly, despite how important these beautiful ecosystems are, they are under threat from stressors including overfishing or run-off from land containing pollutants and plastic debris as well the effects of from climate change, such as rising sea temperatures. Unmanaged tourism can add to this; for example, through diver damages or harmful practices such as anchoring. We are at risk of losing our precious coral reefs – and with that we would also lose the many benefits they bring us. Protecting them for future generations will not only mean our children and grandchildren might have the chance to experience the wonder of these underwater ecosystems but that the people, plants and animals that rely on them will also survive and thrive.

There is hope

So, you can see why the team here at Reef-World is so passionate about protecting coral reefs for future generations. We do this through our international coordination of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally.

Chloe Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation, said: “The survival of the marine tourism industry depends on healthy coral reefs with lots of marine life and, as guardians of the fragile underwater world, snorkellers and scuba divers have a part to play…While irresponsible tourism can pose a threat to corals, well-managed tourism can provide many benefits, including economic opportunities for local communities that rely on coral reefs. By acting as responsible tourists each of us can help reduce the pressures tourism puts on corals and other sensitive marine ecosystems; thus, making reefs healthier and more resilient to other global stressors.”

The Green Fins guidelines are the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry. Through Green Fins, we are helping dive and snorkel operators in 11 (and counting) countries around the world reduce their impact on coral reefs. We encourage and empower members of the diving industry to act through strategic, training, support, resources and assessments (to verify Green Fins members are following the Code of Conduct) as well as by providing practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices - such as anchoring, fish feeding and chemical pollution.

Gabriel Grimsditch, UNEP’s marine ecosystems expert, explained: “Reef-World's global implementation of the Green Fins initiative for sustainable diving and snorkelling has been proven to reduce the negative impact on coral reefs in the local areas the initiative is active. This, in turn, helps increase coral reefs' resilience to larger global threats, such as the effects of climate change. Coral reefs are hugely valuable in terms of marine biodiversity, harbouring at least a quarter of all marine species and providing support to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people around the world. So, protecting them from the impacts of a burgeoning tourism industry is vital to the health of our oceans. Tourists can also have a tangible impact on the marine biodiversity hotspots they visit by always following the Green Fins guidelines for best practice. Together, we can all take positive actions that will protect our coral reefs, keeping them healthy and thriving for years to come.”