The threats towards coral reefs are growing everyday.  Even though there has been a drop of about 12 million tons in how many fish are caught, the fisheries are still catching fish they don't need.  These fish end up dying.  Lots of things need coral reefs to keep them alive.  Some of these are:  eels, octopi, fish, starfish, sponges, sharks, and many other animals.  Fish, starfish, and sponges depend on coral reefs for all reasons, such as food, air, water, and shelter, hiding from predators, etc.  Eels, sharks, and octopi need coral reefs as a place to snatch a couple of fish for dinner.  Many other animals also need coral reefs for these reasons.  If we keep killing the coral reefs, the ecosystem will be greatly affected.

     There are also other threats to the environment as well as over-fishing.  Human contact can also severely harm the coral reefs.  Divers touching the reef, barely brushing against it, can damage the beautiful place so many animals call home.  Another way coral reefs can be destructed by humans is by dropping anchor over a reef.  If the anchor hits the reef, it could damage the coral, possibly not growing back for hundreds of years.

    Another threat is industrial pollution.  When builders clear areas to build homes soil washes down stream, and it can smoother coral reefs.  When it is covered it prohibits the making of food.  Another is that they mine the coral reefs limestone and sand for building materials.

     There are natural threats to the coral reefs as well.  Severe bleaching  took place during the El Niño events  of both 1982-83 and 1997-98. Bleaching also took place in regions that were not affected by El Niño.  Changes in the temperature of the water can also affect coral reefs.