International Year of the Reef - Hawaiian Style

Tropical marine nearshore environments are among the most complex and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, providing an estimated 100 million people with career opportunities, economic and natural resources. The ecosystem goods and services provided by this environment contribute an estimated $375 billion to the global economy. However, this habitat is threatened on a global scale, and is diminishing at an alarming rate as a result of anthropogenic impacts such as pollution, acidification, overfishing, habitat destruction, disease and global warming.

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