Reef and human activities

Unsustainable souvenirs

Unsustainable souvenirs

Souvenir poco sostenibili

Snorkeling

Snorkeling

Snorkeling

Boats between the atolls

Boats between the atolls

Natanti tra gli atolli

Divers

Divers

Subacquei

Village

Village

Villaggio

Traditional fishing in the Maldives

Traditional fishing in the Maldives

Pesca tradizionale alle Maldive

Beach

Beach

Spiaggia

Tourist village

Tourist village

Villaggio turistico

The first economic resource relating to this ecosystem is tourism. Almost all Tropical countries and many countries in the Indian Ocean have wonderful reefs along their coasts. Tourists include lovers of underwater sports, simple amateurs equipped with masks and fins, fishermen and people who prefer the white, sunny beaches which are the fruit of the erosion of the reef corals. The countries that live mainly on “reef” tourism are approximately one hundred. Furthermore reefs give nourishment to millions of people living on tropical coasts and regions. Fishermen set out to sea on their boats fitted out with nets, traps and harpoons to take food for their families and to sell the surplus on the local markets.