Socio-Economic and Medical
Benefits of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are the most diverse eco systems on the planet. They have more than simply existence value, and are important not only to the bio-diverse life they and their ecosystems support, but to the human population as well. Reef-associated plants and animals provide people with:
Much of the world's poor are located within the coastal zones of developing regions and depend directly on reef species for their protein needs. Globally, one-fifth of all animal protein consumed by humans comes from marine environments - an annual catch valued at $125 billion to $250 billion. In developing countries, coral reefs contribute about one-quarter of the total fish catch, providing food, according to one estimate, for one billion people in Asia alone. If properly managed, reefs can yield, on average, 15 metric tons of fish and other seafood per square kilometer per year. In many areas of the world, fishers are depleting this resource through over exploitation and destructive fishing practices. One estimate states that 500 million metric tons of bi product fish are killed and thrown back to sea without being eaten annually. It is widely accepted that only 10-15% of our oceans edible fish populations are left vs that which were here less than 50 years ago.
The tourism industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. Coral reefs are a major draw for snorkelers, scuba divers, recreational fishers, and those seeking vacations in the sun. Florida’s reefs pump $3.6 billion into the economy each year from tourism alone from Stuart to South Miami.That number excludes the keys where another several billion is estimated from diving revenues alone.
In recent years, human bacterial infections have become increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics. Scientists are turning to the oceans in the search for new cures for these and other diseases. Coral reef species offer particular promise because of the array of chemicals produced by many of these organisms for self-protection. This potential has only begun to be explored.Corals are already being used for bone grafts, chemicals found within several species appear useful for treating viruses.
Curacin A, is a commonly used drug to treat several types of cancer including colon, lung and breast cancer, was discovered from research done in coral reef eco system. Another is AZT, which is the most widely used treatment for people suffering from HIV and AIDS. Chemicals harvested from reef-associated species may offer new treatments for leukemia, skin cancer, and tumors. According to one estimate, one-half of all new cancer drug research now focuses on marine organisms. Coral Reefs for this reason have been dubbed “The Rainforests of the Sea".
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DEEP-SEA SPONGES AND CORAL
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Some unfamiliar-sounding ingredients may yield important pharmaceutical products. Below are some of the deep-sea resources that may prove to be extremely valuable in treating human conditions:
When isolated from the sponge Discodermia dissolute, this may treat cancers which are resistant to other drugs.
This is a synthetic version of an agent found in the sponge Lissodendoryx sp. and is in clinical trials for the treatment of lung cancer and other cancers.
Also isolated from a sponge, this may be more effective than Taxol as an anticancer drug.
Isolated from the sponge Spongosporites ruetzleri, this shows promise as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat arthritis and skin irritations, as well as for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and the prevention of colon cancer.
Deep-sea species of coral have been shown to have skeletal structure and dimensions that are almost identical to bone. They may be used as bone grafts like shallow tropical corals have been used for more than 10 years.
Gorgonin, found in bamboo corals, closely resembles an important component of bone called collagen. It can be used for the controlled release of medicines and as a foundation for tissue rebuilding. Coral reefs offer a wide range of environmental benefits, some of which are difficult to quantify, but are of enormous importance to nearby inhabitants.
Coral reefs buffer adjacent shorelines from wave action and the impact of storms. The benefits from this protection are widespread, and range from maintenance of highly productive mangrove fisheries and wetlands to supporting local economies built around ports and harbors, where, as is often the case in the tropics, these are sheltered by nearby reefs. Globally, we estimate almost half a billion people live within 100 kilometers of a coral reef, benefiting from the production and protection these ecosystems provide. A recent study found that the costs of destroying just one kilometer of reef range from about $137,000 to almost $1.2 million over a 25-year period, when fishery, tourism, and protection values alone are considered.
