| Northeast of the Australian coasts, the Great barrier reef brings together more than 400 species of coral over 1553 miles and makes up the largest coral formation in the world. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, this rich sanctuary of submarine life is the refuge of over 1 500 species of fish and 4000 species of molluscs, the dugong, a marine mammal under threat of extinction and 6 out of the 7 species of turtle on Earth. In all, there are over 800 species of coral in the world that are home to 4 000 species of fish. Coral, an essential ecosystem for protecting coasts and marine life, notably provides coastal populations with a large number of goods and services : food, building materials, tourism revenue… Today, it is estimated that the monetary value of coral ecosystems is more than 375 billion dollars. Beyond ethical considerations, protecting coral is as vital on an economic as on an ecological level.
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