Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are unique structures formed from the skeletons of corals found underwater. They are home to around 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and many other kinds of marine creatures. Coral reefs are also beneficial to humans. Research suggests that coral reefs bring in around $30 billion each year through the activities they enable. For instance, coral reefs are home to many species of fish, and so they are very important to the fishing industry. They not only provide humans with food in the form of fish, but also serve as a source of income for people whose livelihood depends on fishing. Thanks to their spectacular beauty, coral reefs also attract thousands of tourists for activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling. In addition to this, they also protect the coast during storms and hurricanes. They break the speed of strong waves and thus prevent erosion and flooding.
However, today, human activities pose a threat to the survival of coral reefs. Fishing practices such as blast fishing, where the reefs are blown apart, are leading to the destruction of coral reefs. Tourists often touch the reefs or try to collect corals and end up damaging the reefs. Pollution and climate change are also causing severe damage to coral reefs. If these harmful practices are not stopped soon, coral reefs will not survive. Coral reefs are the backbone of the marine ecosystem and are useful to humankind as well, and without them, both would suffer a huge impact.
2
What are two central ideas in the passage?
A.
what kinds of fish are found in coral reefs and how they help the fishing industry
B.
how coral reefs prevent coastal flooding and how they boost tourism
C.
why coral reefs are important and how they are being destroyed
D.
how coral reefs are formed and where they are found