Coral's Many Uses

Coral reefs make for more than just stunning snorkeling scenery. Coral is used as jewelry, food and even medical purposes. Extracts from coral in the Atlantic Ocean are used to make one of the major antiretroviral drugs for people with HIV. Bamboo coral is used to make artificial bones. Estee Lauder uses a species called gorgonian coral in skin care products for its anti-inflammatory properties.

The International Coral Reef Initiative declared 2008 the year of the reef for its important ecologic and economic role. Despite the fact that coral reefs cover only 1 percent of the ocean floor, they harbor a quarter of the world’s marine fish species and generate serious revenue for coastal towns.  In Florida, tourism connected to coral brings in an estimated $50 billion annually, while tourism related to coral reefs in Hawaii lured an estimated 6.7 million visitors and $11.4 billion in 2004. Coral reefs also serve as natural protection from storms. They slow down storm surges during severe weather, protecting from floods and erosion.

Currently, climate change is the biggest threat to coral reefs. Warming water and ocean acidification are both destroying the reefs. Some scientists estimate that the majority of our reefs will be gone by the end of the century due to the effects of global warming. The goal of making 2008 the year of the reef is to raise awareness about the importance of coral reefs.

--Monica Heger

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