Where do the corals live? In the ocean, let's look at it's importance.

A shared resource. A mutual relationship between the oceans and humans.

While many of us enjoy the spectacular recreational activities that oceans offer, for some people oceans are a lifeline for survival. Keeping oceans healthy keeps people healthy, and we each have a personal responsibility to protect our oceans.

The food on your plate:

Besides seafood, oceans are connected to what you eat in many more ways. Ocean ingredients, like algae and kelp, are used in making peanut butter beer, soymilk and frozen foods. Plus, 36 percent of the world’s total fisheries catch each year is ground up into fishmeal and oil to feed farmed fish, chickens and pigs.



The air we breathe.

Oceans are a critical player in the basic elements we need to survive. Ocean plants produce half of the world’s oxygen, then these amazing waters absorb nearly one-third of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions. Oceans also regulate our weather and form the clouds that bring us fresh water.

Jobs and the economy.

One in six jobs in the United States is marine-related and more than $128 billion in GDP annually results from ocean tourism, recreation and living resources. Healthy marine habitats like reefs, barrier islands, mangroves and wetlands help protect coastal communities from the results of hurricanes and storm surges.


The items in your medicine cabinet.

You’ll find ocean ingredients flowing out of your medicine cabinet in everything from shampoos and cosmetics to medicines that help fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, viruses and other diseases.

A shared resource. The ocean provides us with all these necessities. All we need to do as humans is to work to keep it clean.

Coral Reefs are fascinating and mysterious ecosystems. They have been around for over five hundred million years and are considered the marine equivalent of tropical rainforests. Covering only 2% of the ocean bottom, they are the home to 25% of all marine species.

Coral is a tiny, ancient animal that belongs to the cnidarian family. Some of its relatives in the cnidarian family are jellyfish and sea anemones. Apart from a reef, an individual coral is called a polyp. Polyps are usually very small and known for being a soft-bodied organism.

National Geographic reports that “some of the coral reefs on the planet today began growing over 50 million years ago.”1 This ancient organism has uses even today, after millions of years have passed.

One of these uses of coral reefs is medicine. Natural medicine in the United States has only been used for a little more than 50 years, but other regions of the world with ancient civilizations, such as India, have been using it way before that.

“Based on natural use or modern studies natural products contribute 85% of the treatment regimes of 80% of the world’s population.

“Halaven, a drug derived from a sponge compound came on the market in November of 2010, and has improved survival among women who have metastatic breast cancer,”

The antiviral drugs Ara-A and AZT and the anticancer agent Ara-C, developed from extracts of sponges found on a Caribbean reef. Chemicals derived from Caribbean sea-whip corals have shown skincare, painkiller, and anti-inflammatory properties and a compound derived from a Pacific sponge has lead to testing of over 300 chemical analogs for anti-inflammatory properties. Kainic acid, which is used as a diagnostic chemical to investigate Huntington's chorea, a rare but fatal disease of the nervous system, was isolated from organisms on a Japanese reef. [e] Australian researchers have developed a sun cream from a coral chemical that contains a natural "factor 50" sun block. [e]

Conserve water: The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans.

Help reduce pollution: Walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs.

Use only ecological or organic fertilizers: Although you may live thousands of miles from a coral reef ecosystem, these products flow into the water system, pollute the ocean, and can harm coral reefs and marine life.

Dispose of your trash properly: Don't leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish.

Support reef-friendly businesses: Ask the fishing, boating, hotel, aquarium, dive or snorkeling operators how they protect the reef. Be sure they care for the living reef ecosystem and ask if the organization responsible is part of a coral reef ecosystem management effort.

Plant a tree: Trees reduce runoff into the oceans. You will also contribute to reversing the warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans. Help us Plant a Billion.

Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling: Do not touch the reef or anchor your boat on the reef. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill it, so look for sandy bottom or use moorings if available.

Volunteer for a coral reef cleanup: You don't live near a coral reef? Then do what many people do with their vacation: visit a coral reef. Spend an afternoon enjoying the beauty of one of the most diverse ecosystems on the Earth.

Contact your government representatives: Demand they take action to protect coral reefs, stop sewage pollution of our oceans, expand marine protected areas and take steps to reverse global warming.

Spread the word: Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet's coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Share this excitement and encourage others to get involved. Send a free coral reef e-card today!