Coral Reef Wildlife and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Coral reefs support extraordinary biodiversity, and their degradation causes welfare harms to millions of individual animals. Understanding reef welfare helps connect conservation and animal welfare.

Key Facts

Coral reefs cover less than 1 percent of the ocean floor but house 25 percent of marine species
Bleaching events caused by thermal stress have damaged over 50 percent of the Great Barrier Reef
Cyanide fishing to capture live reef fish for aquariums stuns and often kills non-target animals
Crown of thorns starfish outbreaks driven by nutrient pollution devastate reef fish habitats
Fish that lose their coral habitat due to bleaching face starvation and predation pressure

Welfare Considerations

Individual animals living on degrading coral reefs experience welfare harms as their habitat deteriorates. Fish that depend on coral structure for refuge from predators face increased predation pressure as bleaching destroys shelter. Animals injured by cyanide fishing used to capture live specimens for aquariums experience chemical burns and organ damage. The collection of reef fish for the aquarium trade causes capture stress, transport mortality, and often death in the first weeks of captivity. Reef conservation is simultaneously a biodiversity and animal welfare issue.

What You Can Do

Avoid purchasing wild-caught coral reef fish for aquariums
Choose only captive-bred or responsibly sourced marine aquarium species
Reduce carbon emissions as the primary driver of thermal bleaching
Support coral reef restoration and monitoring organizations
Use reef-safe sunscreen when swimming in reef environments