Reef Health and the Aquarium Industry: How Aquariums Benefit Reefs

Presented by Bruce Bunting, Vice President of the Center for Conservation Finance of the World Wildlife Fund at the Marine Ornamentals Conference, November 26 December 1, 2001, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Coral reefs are among the biologically richest ecosystems on earth. They are a source of biodiversity, food, environmental protection, recreation, and potential medicinal products. Throughout much of the world, communities and governments are dependent on them for subsistence, jobs, products, and revenue. Tragically, as important as they are, coral reefs are also under an ever-increasing threat due to global warming, coastal development, destructive fishing practices, and other human-related activities.