Coral reefs & society and

culture
Team Members:
Asabi Ramsaran

Dixie Ann Daniel

Shonika McKain

Calisa Joseph

Shalon Kerr

Sherissa Moore

Naecia Samuel

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What Is Biodiversity?

the variety of plant and animal

life in the world or in a particular
habitat, a high level of which is
usually considered to be
important and desirable.-Oxford
Dictionary

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 The protection offered by coral reefs makes it

home to many diverse organisms ranging from
fishes, corals, molluscs and crustaceans etc.
Most of the species found in coral reefs are
endemic, meaning they are found no where else in
the world. Amazing!
Corals have the ability to produce new medicines
for mankind. E.g. New treatment for AIDS-AZT was
developed from chemicals in a sponge coral
Sunscreen is also produced from chemicals found
in corals.

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Tourism
The reef provides a world of colours, shapes
and sizes that tourists world wide travel to
view.
Tourists are interested and amazed by our
white sands in the Caribbean which is
formed by the smashing of the waves
against the corals grinding them into
powder.

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 Tourists are provided with the opportunity

to snorkle, scuba dive and fish in the reefs.
The coral reef is then important as it
generates and contributes to a vast
amount of income obtained by certain
countries.

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Fisheries
Reefs provide valuable fisheries.
Fishermen depend on the reefs to sustain
the livelihoods of coastal villages
Seafood is known for its source of protein
Nearby Mangroves act as a nursery for
fishes before they venture out to the reefs
where they are offered more protection
from predators.

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Coastal Protection
Reefs play an
important role in
protecting the
coastlines from
erosion.
Reefs break the force
of the waves, this
results in calm waters
on the coast.
It faciliates coastline
activites like fishing
and sea sports.

Ports, harbours and

settlements (hotels,
houses) enjoy
sheltered locations
because of this.
Wetlands thrive as
they depend on the
accumulation of silt
which usually occurs
under calmer
conditions.

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Lets
Protect our
Reefs!

Buccoo Reef, Tobago

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