Because of its biodiversity, the importance of corals is fundamental to marine life. They are like the rainforests for the world's flora and fauna. There is nothing that compares to the corals at sea. About 1/4 of all species of fish depend on them to survive.
Coral reefs constitute important, highly diversified ecosystems at the local, regional and especially global levels. Because they are home to an extraordinary variety of plants and animals, they are considered the most diverse marine habitat in the world, and because of this they are of great economic importance because they represent the source of food and income for many communities. One in four marine species live on reefs, including 65% of fish.
