How coral reefs boost the Philippines' economy

Is it even possible for underwater colorful rocks to affect the country’s economy? The answer to this question is: yes, it definitely is possible! Remember on the previous blog how we talked about corals not just being pretty decorations for fishes to swim around or to make the underwater world look nice? Turns out, they’re also heroes when it comes to contributing to our economy here in the Philippines.

So, why are they such a big deal?

The Philippines are made up of a bunch of islands. Many people living by the coast heavily rely on fishing and tourism as their main source of income — the fisheries sector currently accounts for around 1.3 percent to the Philippines' GDP, and provides approximately 1.6 million jobs (that’s about 4 percent of the workforce). Even if we look at it on a more microlevel, there are tons of families out there who make a living out of their small fishing boats to be able to put food on the table.

Bottom line, healthy coral reefs equal colorful reefs. Colorful reefs attract a lot of beautiful fishes, AND tourists eager to explore the mesmerizing landscapes under the surface! These tourists would then bring business to local shops, hence job opportunities to the coastal and island communities.

Let’s continue to take good care of our reefs!