U. S. Coral reefs – Danger of National Treasures

Ensino Fundamental Inicial::Meio Ambiente ; The Picture shows one of the coral reefs of Florida/USA ; which attracts a large number of visitors ; including recreational divers and fishermen. During the recent decades ; many coral reefs around the world were damaged by natural processes and the impact of human activities. The reasons for the catastrophic decline in the health of theses complex marine ecosystems are not well understood ; and it is crucial that they be protected ; since they contribute with hundreds of millions of dollars every year to the fishing industry in the United States. They also generate billions of dollars every year in tourism and industry in this country