Coral reefs are not just pleasing to the eye, they are known as the rainforest of the ocean as they support a large biodiversity and has high levels productivity. Coral reefs cover only less than 1% of the ocean floor yet are able to support nearly 25% of all marine life.  Benefits of coral reefs include:

• Source of habitats for more than 1 million species in the ocean.
• Provide food for people living near coral reefs
• Natural barrier, acts as breakwaters, to protect coasts
• Income from tourism
• Potential medicinal purposes

The importance of coral reefs indicates that its demise would bring much negative consequences. Coral reefs are increasingly destroyed by trawl nets meant for bottom trawling. More trawl nets are made from plastic as it is more durable and cheaper, hence when these nets become entangled in coral reefs during bottom trawling, they are either cut off from the yachts and left entangled with the coral reefs, or are pulled by force and causes the coral reefs to break.

Apart from physical damage of coral reefs, researchers have found that corals consume microplastics as they are non-selective feeders. Should plastic pollution of ocean waters increase, there may be negative consequences on the corals as their minute stomach cavities become filled with microplastics that are indigestible.

 

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Next, impacts on marine animals.

Previously, impacts on seabirds.