Coral reefs are one of the most productive and biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet.
They harbor a rich diversity of species ranging from 35,000 to 60,000 with thousands more still unidentified. Much of the degradation is due to the fish ing practices of the live reef fish trade. The use of cyanide as a collection device plays a key role in the ecological destruction that occurs in coral reefs. The most intere sting aspect of this subject is the prof ound social effects that are involved. It is not a simple matter of biological threats through careless practices but rather a means of survival for many people.