A fragile ecosystem, these coral reefs take a long time to regenerate. Coral polyps take up to 250 years to build a square kilometer of reef. Coral reefs serve as shelter, feeding, breeding and nursery areas for more than 2,000 species of invertebrates and plants.
Coral reefs provide people with food and is a major source of animal protein.
A square kilometer of healthy reef can produce as much as 30 metric tons of fish and fishery products every year, a volume enough to feed 600 people for a year.