Marine Life
Artificial reefs have been hailed as innovative tools for marine restoration. They promise to provide new habitats for marine life, protect shorelines, and sometimes divert tourist pressure from fragile natural reefs. Yet, their popularity has also sparked an ongoing ethical debate: are they truly about conserving marine ecosystems, or are they just cleverly marketed tourism infrastructure?
Coral reefs worldwide are attracting increasing numbers of scuba divers, snorkelers and freedivers. Unfortunately, those same visitors who come to admire them are often causing damage to corals and the marine life they support. One of the reasons for this is the lack of knowledge and/or proper training. People often forget or don't care to pay attention to the marine life around them. Some don't even realize that corals are living organisms.
As a diver you have probably had a chance to admire the beauty of coral reefs and the wondrous sea creatures that inhabit them. Did you know though that the importance of coral reefs extends far beyond the pleasure they bring to those who explore them? They support enormous biodiversity, provide food, jobs, income, and shoreline protection. So even if you live far away from the tropical oceans you have most likely experienced some of the benefits that coral reefs bring to billions of people worldwide.