The Philippine Coral Reefs

WWF: Coral Triangle Day

A school of Bigeye Barracudas (Sphyraena forsteri) in Tubbataha Reef, Sulu Seas, Palawan, Philippines. Copyright: © Jurgen Freund / WWF-Canon

The first-ever Coral Triangle Day will be celebrated today June 9, 2012, to highlight the importance of marine conservation and to raise awareness of marine biodiversity. The Coral Triangle is a six million square-kilometer ocean expanse that contains the highest number of reef building corals on the planet. Its spectacular coral reefs are home to thousands of whales, dolphins, rays, sharks, six species of marine turtles, and the world’s largest populations of commercially important tunas. However, coastal development, destructive fishing and overfishing, unsustainable tourism, the illegal harvest and trade of endangered species, and climate change, among many others, are taking a heavy toll on this fragile ecosystem. WWF works to address these issues to ensure that the Coral Triangle’s diverse marine habitats remain vibrant and healthy, providing food and livelihoods for generations to come. Please visit www.thecoraltriangle.com/day to learn more, and for more slideshow photos including the Philippines you can visit this LINK.