Page 27 - The World About Us

Coral reef
2.1.5

Why are coral reefs such a valuable resource?

Coral reefs hold great value for
humans and the planet. Many coral
reefs are found in areas which suffer
regular tropical cyclones. The reefs
provide valuable coastal protec on
against large storm waves. The reef
forces the waves to break before they
reach the actual shore.
Globally, it is es mated that over
one billion people rely in some way on
coral reefs for their livelihoods or food.
Reefs may contribute over £20 billion to
the world economy. In recent years
new medicines, including an -bio cs,
have been developed as a result of coral
reef studies.
fig.72 Big Eyed Jack follow a diver in the Line Islands, Pacific Ocean.
Coral reefs are home to 25% of all
marine fish species. They provide shells, corals play an important role in kilometres from the Queensland coast.
breeding grounds for many fish. The the global carbon cycle. They fix the There are more than 120 reef
numerous reefs and mangrove forests carbon dissolved in sea water as carbon species caught, both commercially and
of the Great Barrier Reef marine park dioxide. This reduces the impact of by recrea onal fishers along the Great
are nurseries for young fish. They play humans burning fossil fuels. Reefs Barrier Reef. These include fish such as
an essen al role in the food web of the protect coastlines from storms. The coral trout, red emperor and reef cod.
tropical seas. Great Barrier Reef forces storm waves Pelagic fish, such as Spanish mackerel,
By building their calcium carbonate from the coral sea to break many also visit the reef, where they are
harvested commercially. Crabs and
fig.73 Brilliant beaches of white coral sand draw in tourists to the tropical coasts. prawns are also harvested extensively
on the reef and in the coastal areas.
Dive harvesters operate throughout
the Great Barrier Reef system. There are
five major dive fisheries, worth the
equivalent of £9 million, fishing tropical
rock lobsters, aquarium fish, sea
cucumbers, coral trochus, specimen
shells and worms for fishing bait.

Tourism As well as the sandy fig.74 Diving in the Red Sea.
beaches for sunworshippers, diving on
coral reefs is a big draw for tourists, from
the Caribbean through the Red Sea, South
East Asia and into the Pacific.

The Great Barrier Reef is a major
tourist a rac on. In 2015/2016, there
were over 2 million tourist visitor days
across the whole marine park. These
visits are es mated to generate over £1.2
billion in economic ac vity along the
North Queensland coast. The tourist
industry has over 500 boats opera ng in
the reef and numerous hotels, campsites,
backpacker hotels and other tourist
facili es on land.

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Biodiverse ecosystems are under threat from human activity.