Shrinking coral reef habitats drive global declines in biodiversity and fish catches
In short: Researchers evaluating global trends found that living coral coverage has been reduced by half since the 1950s. This loss of habitat is associated with a 63% decline in coral-associated biodiversity and a drop in fish catches, even as fishing effort continues to rise.
The study assessed changes in coral reef extent, fishery catches, fishing effort, and biodiversity. These findings suggest that the continued degradation of reefs threatens the sustainable development and well-being of coastal communities that rely on these ecosystems.
The research focuses on global-scale trends and projections, which may not capture the specific nuances of local reef dynamics.
Why it matters: The ongoing loss of coral habitats poses a direct threat to the food security and stability of coastal human populations.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Eddy et al. (2021). Global decline in capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services. One Earth. · cc-by-nc-nd
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