Coral poaching

Harvesting coral colonies also causes significant financial loss to surrounding economies and destruction of environments.

Coral poaching is a major environmental problem in Asia and continues to destroy valuable ecosystems and habitats.

Coral reefs also shelter species that naturally produce vital antibacterial and other chemical defense compounds used in medicine, including for treatments for cancer, arthritis, heart disease, bacterial and viral infection, and asthma.

Without coral reefs, buildings are at greater risk of water damage due to erosion of the shore line.

Studies have shown that sponges in reefs are able to capture and absorb sugar in the water and shed them into the seabed below, feeding snails and other bottom feeders.

Hawksbill sea turtles have become critically endangered and are highly dependent on coral reefs for food, which mainly consists of sponges.

The Great Barrier Reef has experienced many environmental impacts resulting from coral poaching such as; heightened erosion of existing geographic formations, complete destruction of cays, a substantial decline in coral coverage and variety, elevated levels of turbidity and deposition of sediment, increased algal colonization, reduction in the number of fish and heightened susceptibility to other environmental influences.

[16] Coral reefs off the coast of Tanzania on Mafia Island serve as natural barriers to hydrodynamic forces, creating an environment with low-energy levels and enabling the growth of seagrass beds and mangrove forests, two key ecosystems to the biodiversity of the area.

For example, most of the estimated 5 million people who visit the Florida Keys each year contribute to the economy that the coral reefs provide.

The main concern for the Japanese government is that coral mining results in significant long-term losses to their fisheries, shore line safety, and leisure/travel industries.

The mining of live coral has been emphasized as one of the most harmful extractive practices in the region, according to a study done by biologist Nicholas K.

Due to population expansions, the Kuna people of Kuna-Yala, Panama, have participated in coral extraction and landfilling for many years.

[20] Many nations are working towards preventing poachers from mining coral in shallow-reef areas that harbor marine wildlife and habitats.

[21] In the United States, a group known as SeaWeb has worked with other agencies to prevent illegal poaching as well as the preservation of coral colonies.