NOAA is a leader in the global effort known as the International Coral Reef Initiative, which aims to bring attention to these unique and beautiful ecosystems that today face grave dangers from a variety of threats, many human-caused. 1997 has been declared the International Year of the Coral Reef. Tourism is a major industry in coral reef communities such as the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Hawaii.
Coral reefs are also vital because they protect coastal communities from storms and wave damage.
The thousands of plants and animals also have biomedical applications that have produced promising leads in the search for anticancer compounds, antibiotics, pain suppressers, sun screens and other products. Many of the same scientists, academics, managers and government participants supporting the International Year of the Coral Reef helped put together the International Coral Reef Initiative which, in 1995, issued a strong call to action. Directed at governments, the Initiative encourages countries and other partners to develop national and local initiatives to reverse the decline of reef ecosystems and thereby enhance the well-being of the communities that depend on them. The United States has followed suit. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the primary federal agency within the United States charged with the stewardship of our domestic coral reefs.