50 Stories: Protecting tropical oceans

WWF Canada



On April 29, 2011, WWF celebrated 50 years of environmental conservation. Join us as we highlight 50 stories in 50 days, looking back at what we’ve achieved together and looking forward to another 50 years.
You check your mask is sealed, bite the mouthpiece, breathe in, and plunge …
… into another world.
For anyone lucky enough to experience it, snorkelling or scuba diving on a coral reef is unforgettable. The extraordinary array of life within our tropical oceans is breathtaking.
But this strange world and its fascinating life forms are under threat. We’re fighting to save them.

Box fish, Mafia Island, Tanzania (c) Edward Parker/WWF-Canon
What’s at stake?
The world’s coral reefs cover less than 1% of our oceans. But they’re home to a quarter of all marine life – scientists estimate there could be as many as 2 million species.
Coral reefs have huge economic value – the goods and services they provide are worth up to US$30 billion a year. They also protect coastlines, and they shelter communities from powerful, sometimes devastating, tropical storms.
To continue to reap these benefits, we need healthy reefs. But climate change, overfishing, destructive fishing practices, irresponsible tourism and pollution are putting them in peril.
We’ve already lost more than a quarter of the world’s coral reefs. At the current rate, 60% will be destroyed over the next 30 years.
Climate change is making our waters warmer, causing reefs to bleach and die. Oceans are also becoming more acidic from absorbing carbon dioxide, which affects the growth of coral reefs.
Coral reefs take tens of thousands of years to form. We can’t let them be destroyed in a few decades.
The story so far
Governments, fishermen, scientists, hoteliers, traditional leaders, multinational supermarkets: just some of the people we’re working with to secure the long-term future of the world’s most amazing tropical marine areas.
Places we’ve helped protect include:

  • Galapagos Islands: we’ve worked for half a century to protect the extraordinary biodiversity of these islands, where Charles Darwin formulated his theories of natural selection. We played a big role in creating the Galapagos Marine Reserve – the second largest marine protected area in the world when it was set up in 1998.
  • Coral Triangle: we’ve helped protect extraordinary places like the Tubbataha Reefs in the Philippines – one of the world’s most astounding dive sites.
  • Australia: we successfully campaigned to increase protection for the Great Barrier Reef in 2004. A third of the reef is now fully protected.
  • East Africa: over the past decade, we’ve helped protect 15,000 sq km along the coast of Mozambique. We’re now working with local communities and the authorities to create a further 17,000 sq km protected area, which will be Africa’s largest marine park.
  • Fiji: we successfully campaigned for the government of Fiji to create a network of marine protected areas for 30% of its seas.
  • West Africa: we’ve worked with governments in the region to create a network of protected areas to allow falling fish stocks to recover.

Did you know?
Coral reefs are built by millions of living creatures called polyps, which live in colonies. Although soft-bodied, like sea anemones, they form hard, chalky skeletons, which become the basis of the reef.
Facts and figures
2 million – species live in coral reefs
US$30 billion – estimated annual economic value of Coral Reefs worldwide
33.4% – proportion of the Great Barrier Reef that’s now fully protected, up from just 4.6% before 2004
15 tonnes – amount of seafood an average kilometre of coral reef can provide in a year, if managed responsibly
What next?
We’re working with governments to make sure the most vital marine areas are protected. That also means working alongside local planners, fisheries managers, businesses and communities to make the long-term health of marine life a top priority in the decisions they make.
But protected areas alone are not enough. We’re also addressing the underlying threats facing coral reefs and the life they support by promoting responsible fishing, pushing for action on climate change and helping people make a better living by conserving their natural resources.
How you can help
Support our Coral Triangle Initiative.
Be part of the celebration!