Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Coral reefs are warm, clear, shallow ocean habitats that are rich in life. There are coral reefs off the eastern coast of Africa, the southern coast of India, the Red Sea, and off the coasts of northeast and northwest Australia, Polynesia and there are also coral reefs off the coast of Florida, the Caribbean, and down to Brazil.

Coral reefs, Often called Rainforests of the Sea and their associated systems of mangroves and sea grasses, are among the most diverse, beautiful and productive of all marine habitats on Earth. They are found in the warm, clear, shallow waters of tropical oceans worldwide.

Reef building corals contain tiny cells of symbiotic algae that convert sunlight and nutrients into fuel for coral growth and production. Other types of corals that do not require warm water or sunlight are found in deep water, providing important habitats for commercial, recreational and other species.

Fish swam around and over reefs.

"Pollution, over fishing, and overuse have put many of our unique reefs at risk. Their disappearance would destroy the habitat of countless species. It would unravel the web of marine life that holds the potential for new chemicals, new medicines, unlocking new mysteries. It would have a devastating effect on the coastal communities from Cairns to Key West, Florida -- communities whose livelihood depends upon the reefs."

President Bill Clinton

Coral reefs are unique and complex ecosystems that support the cultural, social and economic interests of many countries. The habitats have traditionally played a central role among many island peoples where community-based conservation, subsistence fisheries, and protected areas have been successfully managed for generations. The reefs are recognized for their range of benefits such as supporting economies by nurturing fisheries and providing for recreational and tourism activities, providing substances useful for medical purposes, performing essential ecosystem services that protect against coastal erosion, and providing a diversity of cultural and aesthetic values to many people and communities.

Corals grow in many different colours and configurations

"There has long been a belief that the sea, at least, was inviolate, beyond man's ability to change and to despoil. But this belief, unfortunately, has proved to be naive"

Rachel Carson

By 1997, an estimated 11 percent of the world's reefs had been lost to a variety of human activities. The threats that have been identified include: shoreline development, polluted runoff from agricultural and land-use practices, over-fishing and over-exploitation, destructive fishing practices, dredging and shoreline modification, vessel groundings and anchoring, disease outbreaks and global climate change. These threats have been compounded by a lack of awareness and appreciation for coral reefs at local, national and global levels. It is estimated that an additional 32 percent of the world's coral reefs are now seriously threatened.

Beautiful colour of Sea life (Sea Slug)

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