Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs Corals are tiny plant-like animals that depend on clean, clear waters and sunlight to survive. Under these conditions, corals gradually build the coral skeleton that shapes the reef and transforms it into an elaborate structure that can live for thousands of years. ... Coral Reefs help benefit humans in many ways. However, humans are a direct cause for many of the environmental changes that negatively impact Coral Reefs. Humans are also trying to control the amount of damage that is being caused by humans and are helping to save the Coral Reefs from being polluted. Coral reefs are extremely vital to American fisheries. Approximately 50 percent of all federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs and related habitats for part of their life cycle. American commercial fisheries, will make an annual dockside value of $100 million, strictly from the reefs. ... Coral Reefs also offer many small shoreline towns protection from wave actions, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.