6 Incredible Things The Coral Triangle Gives The World

Did You know June 9th is Coral Triangle Day? We bet you didn’t. Its a day to celebrate and connect with the underwater Amazon of the world, a spectacularly diverse marine environment in the Asia-Pacific that covers an area half the size of the United States, passing through Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. This biological powerhouse touches the people of the Coral Triangle and people all around the globe!

1. It's the Global Epicenter of Marine Life Abundance and Biodiversity.

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

It’s not just a clever name. The Coral Triangle is home 76% of all coral species on the planet. Those corals also support over 3,000 species of fish and make it a place where whales, dolphins, manta rays, sharks, dugongs, and the world’s largest fish, the whale sharks continue to thrive and delight tourists from all over the world.

2. The Coral Triangle Provides a Home and Livelihood for Hundreds of Millions of People

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

Three hundred sixty three million people reside in the six countries of the Coral Triangle, one-third of them depend directly on local marine and coastal resources for their income, livelihoods and food.

3. Tuna, Tuna, Tuna!

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

It is in these waters that a large share of the world’s tuna supply is caught and shipped. From there it finds its way to your sandwich, salad or sushi. Tuna spawning and nursery grounds support a multi-billion dollar tuna industry, providing an important food source for tens of millions of consumers worldwide.

4. It Provides All Types of Seafood for the World

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

Other wild-caught marine products -- snapper, grouper, sea cucumber, and shrimp -- are sold to local markets and exported worldwide, generating hundreds of millions of dollars as well as important food sources. Making sure these commercial and subsistence fisheries of the Coral Triangle are sustainable, from the local to the regional scale, is imperative to the well-being and future of the Coral Triangle.

5. It's Home to 6 of the 7 World’s Sea Turtle Species

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

Six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles nest, forage, and migrate in the Coral Triangle.

6. It Provides Nature-centered Business and Job Opportunities by the Thousands

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

Misool Eco Dive Resort in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, is just one of many eco-conscious businesses that is supporting conservation efforts by preserving, rather than exploiting, the natural wealth of the Coral Triangle. Healthy marine resources contribute to a growing nature-based tourism, generating tens of millions of dollars annually and thousands of jobs.