Marine Animals

Mangrove Ecosystem Welfare Services

Mangrove forests provide essential nursery habitat for fish, protection from storms for coastal wildlife, and carbon storage — their loss devastates marine animal welfare.

Key Facts

Mangroves cover approximately 14 million hectares globally with 35% lost in the past 50 years
They serve as nursery habitat for approximately 75% of tropical fish species at some life stage
Mangrove loss exposes coastal communities and wildlife to storm surge and coastal erosion
Shrimp aquaculture ponds have replaced significant areas of mangrove in Southeast Asia
Mangrove restoration programs can regenerate lost habitat with appropriate species and site selection

Welfare Considerations

Mangrove loss cascades through marine food webs, reducing fish populations and the predators that depend on them. Fish unable to access nursery habitat due to mangrove clearing face reduced juvenile survival rates. Restoration of mangrove habitat directly improves welfare conditions for the fish and invertebrate communities that depend on them. Consumer choices reducing demand for shrimp from mangrove-converted aquaculture reduce habitat destruction pressure.

What You Can Do

Support mangrove restoration organizations in tropical coastal regions
Choose shrimp from certified sources not produced through mangrove clearance
Advocate for mangrove protection in coastal development planning and aquaculture regulation
Donate to organizations monitoring and restoring mangrove habitat in priority regions
Learn about the ecological services mangroves provide beyond their direct wildlife habitat value