Reefs at Risk

• Coral reefs of Southeast Asia, the most species-rich on earth, are the most threatened of any region. More than 80 percent are at risk, primarily from coastal development and fishing- related pressures.

• Most United States reefs are threatened. Almost all the reefs off the Florida coast are at risk from a range of factors, including runoff of fertilizers and pollutants from farms and coastal development. Close to half of Hawaii's reefs are threatened, while virtually all of Puerto Rico's reefs are at risk.

• Nearly two-thirds of Caribbean reefs are in jeopardy. Most of the reefs on the Antilles chain, including the islands of Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica and other vacation favorites, are at high risk. Reefs off Jamaica, for example, have been ravaged as a result of overfishing and pollution. Many resemble graveyards, algae-covered and depleted of fish.

But the news is not all bad. The report also describes steps that can be taken to combat threats to coral reefs, and includes the stories of communities around the globe that have successfully addressed these challenges to their marine environment and way of life.

Reefs at Risk concludes that the most important actions for promoting healthy coral reef ecosystems depend largely on these efforts by local governments, community groups, environmental organizations and the private sector. Many are win-win solutions: creating marine parks that, in turn, create new jobs; treating sewage before it reaches reefs (which benefits human health); and eliminating costly government subsidies. A well-managed marine protected areas system is one of the most effective approaches for assuring healthy reefs, while generating tourism dollars and maintaining the vitality of nearby fisheries.