Obliteration of Coral Reefs Could Hurt Scuba Diving Travel in the Caribbean

Scuba diving tourism in the Caribbean could lose up to 85 percent of its gains by the year 2015 if the destruction of coral reefs goes on unnoticed, that according to a report issued by the World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think-tank.

Nearly 60 percent of the world´s coral reefs are being threatened by human activity and although they cover less than one percent of the earth´s surface, coral reefs are "the most productive ecosystem in the sea" and yield approximately $375 billion in goods and services each year, according to the Cousteau Society.

Coral reefs and associated seaweed and mangrove communities also protect thousands of miles of coastline from tropical storms and wave damage. Despite their commercial and ecological importance, however, destructive human practices are undermining their survival.

The identification of the threats to reefs, as well as discussion of policies and practices to mitigate the ongoing damage, was the focus of the conference "Coral Reefs at Risk: Challenges and Solutions," convened in Washington on June 6 as part of Capitol Hill Oceans Week.