What is a coral reef?

Coral reefs are large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of coral, which are marine invertebrate animals. read more

Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals.Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine water that contain few nutrients. read more

Reefs, which are usually made up of many colonies, are much bigger still. The largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef, which spans 1,600 miles (2,600 km) off the east coast of Australia. It is so large that it can be seen from space! It takes a long time to grow a big coral colony or a coral reef, because each coral grows slowly. read more

Coral aquaculture, also known as coral farming or coral gardening, is the cultivation of corals for commercial purposes or coral reef restoration. Aquaculture is showing promise as a potentially effective tool for restoring coral reefs, which have been declining around the world. read more