The Impact of Coral Degradation on Coastal Communities in Southeast Asia
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Summary+
In general, coral reefs across the globe are in decline, but reefs in Southeast Asia are among some of the most threatened in the world. Climate change, triggered by fossil fuel emissions, raises sea water temperatures and lowers the ocean’s pH, contributing to coral bleaching and inhibiting coral growth. Local threats also particularly affect reefs in Southeast Asia, such as destructive fishing techniques and marine and inland sources of pollution. Coastal communities in Southeast Asia are especially vulnerable to the degradation of coral reefs due to economic reliance on these reefs and their proximity to them. Declining coral reefs can damage the economy and livelihoods of individuals dependent on reef fisheries and reef tourism and can negate the coastline protection that coral reefs offer. Southeast Asian governments are working to create protected areas for these coral reefs, and other organizations are studying ways to rehabilitate degraded corals. Still, more comprehensive research is needed to determine their success now and in the future.
Key Takeaways+
- More people live near coral reefs in Southeast Asia than in any other region in the world.
- Mass coral bleaching events due to climate change once occurred only every 25–30 years but now occur an average of every 6 years.
- Blast fishing and poison fishing threaten 56% of the coral reefs in Southeast Asia.
- Fisheries in Southeast Asia bring in an estimated US$2.4 billion every year.
- Coral reef tourism brings in US$5.8 billion and over 35 million visitors annually.
- For every square kilometer of healthy coral reef, Southeast Asia saves an estimated US$5,500 to US$110,000 every year due to coastal protection.
- Only 14% of Marine Protected Areas in Southeast Asia are rated as being effectively managed.
Key Terms+
Zooxanthellae—A group of single-celled algae known for forming symbiotic relationships with various marine organisms, notably corals.
Mangrove—Tropical trees and bushes that are found along shorelines of salty bodies of water, adapted to withstand periods of being submerged by tides.
Ecosystem Service—Any direct or indirect benefits that a natural ecosystem provides to humans.
Coral Triangle—An extremely diverse region of the ocean, spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, that holds more species of coral than anywhere else on the planet.
Pelagic Fish—Fish that occupy the mid and upper layers of the open ocean, as opposed to fish that are associated with the seabed or coral reefs.
Coral Substrate—The material that coral polyps attach and grow on, such as live coral, dead coral, rock, rubble, and sand.
Marine Protected Area (MPA)—An area of the marine environment that has been reserved by a government for the protection of its natural resources.
The full brief is currently being finalized and will be published shortly. Stay tuned for updates!
By Paige Smith
Published Winter 2025
Special thanks to Mason Scholes for editing and research contributions.