What Would Happen If All Coral Reefs Vanished?

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The stunning clear waters of the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and other oceans are renowned as prime destinations for divers and snorkelers, largely due to the abundance of colorful fish that flock to the coral reefs in these regions.

What exactly is coral? Coral is a living organism that can be either hard or soft. The coral reefs we observe in the oceans are formed by colonies of tiny creatures known as coral polyps, which are distant relatives of sea anemones and jellyfish. Hard corals are created when polyps extract calcium from seawater and use it to build external limestone exoskeletons. In contrast, some polyps create soft corals by converting calcium into internal skeletons. When numerous colonies of coral polyps unite, they form what we recognize as coral reefs [source: Teach].

Coral reefs not only attract snorkelers and divers, but they also host the highest concentration of marine biodiversity worldwide. Although coral reefs cover less than 1 percent of the Earth's surface — and this area is shrinking — they are essential to over 500 million people who rely on them for food, employment, and recreation. These reefs contribute an estimated $375 billion annually to the global economy [source: IUCN Coral].

The question of what would happen if coral reefs were to disappear is not a far-off hypothetical. The threats facing coral reefs — including climate change, pollution, coastal development, overfishing, and the use of coral for jewelry and souvenirs — are very real. In fact, the proportion of living, growing coral in Caribbean reefs has plummeted to just 8 percent, compared to over 50 percent in the 1970s [source: IUCN Facts].

So, what would occur if coral reefs were to completely vanish? Experts predict that this would lead to widespread hunger, poverty, and political instability as the livelihoods of entire populations disappear. As the coral dies, the reefs will erode and eventually disappear, disrupting crucial marine ecosystems that serve as breeding and feeding grounds. Species such as grouper, snapper, oysters, and clams that rely on coral for protection would be severely affected. With coral reefs providing a vital food source for many, their destruction would worsen food security issues for these communities [source: Skoloff].

The global ocean fishing industry, which supports 38 million jobs, would collapse. Island nations in the Caribbean that depend on tourism would see their revenue sources vanish. Ultimately, the health of people worldwide, not just those in coral reef areas, would decline, as coral is an ingredient in numerous medicines [source: Skoloff].

These are just some of the outcomes that scientists can predict with a high degree of certainty — though many experts caution that there are countless unforeseen consequences if coral reefs were to vanish. The collapse of the ocean's food chain and the loss of biodiversity could trigger problems beyond what we can currently imagine.

There are steps we can take to help preserve coral reefs, many of which also benefit the environment in other ways. These actions include opting for eco-friendly transportation options like walking or biking to reduce pollutants such as oil and gas, participating in beach and reef cleanups, and cutting back on pesticides and fertilizers that may end up in the ocean [source: Bardroff]. With a bit of awareness and a commitment to making responsible choices, we can help ensure that coral reefs — and the incredible biodiversity they support — will thrive for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.