Status of the world's coral reefs

More than a quarter of the world’s reefs are at high risk, and just under a third of these habitats are at moderate risk, from human disturbance. Of the four broad categories of potential threat to coral reefs evaluated, overexploitation of marine resources, including destructive fishing practices, and coastal development present the greatest threat. Globally, 36 percent of all reefs were classified as threatened by overexploitation, 30 percent by coastal development, 22 percent by inland pollution and erosion, and 12 percent by marine pollution. When these threats are combined, 58 percent of the world’s reefs are at risk (defined as medium and high risk).

These figures are tempered by the relatively low threat faced by coral reefs in the Pacific – home to more reefs than any other part of the world. Forty-one percent of reefs in the Pacific are estimated to be at risk. Outside of this region, 70 percent of all reefs are at risk (almost 40 percent at high risk). <!--- FIGURES 4 AND 5 NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE ---> <!---Figure 4 presents a summary of coral reef area and combined threat classification by region, while Figure 5 shows the same information for several countries. (Definitions for regional groups can be found in the Technical Notes section.)--->

Most disturbing is the status of reefs in Southeast Asia – a global hot spot of coral and fish diversity. As with tropical rainforests in this region, reef ecosystems are under tremendous threat. More than 80 percent of these ecosystems are potentially at risk, primarily from coastal development, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices.

Results from the Reefs at Risk analysis are presented in Reefs at Risk indicator by region and country and in the five regional highlights that follow.