Financially and biologically...

Counting only the economic value of fisheries, tourism, and shoreline protection, the costs of destroying 1km of coral reef ranges between US$137,000-1,200,000 over a 25-year period
Properly managed coral reefs can yield an average of 15 tonnes of fish and other seafood per square kilometre each year
Southeast Asia's coral reef fisheries alone are estimated to yield US$ 2.4 billion annually
More than 80% of the world's shallow reefs are severely over-fished
32 of the 34 recognised animal Phyla are found on coral reefs compared to 9 Phyla in tropical rainforests
Occupying less than one quarter of 1% of the marine environment, coral reefs are home to more than 25% of all known marine fish species
58% of the world's coral reefs are potentially threatened by human activity
Coral reefs are found in 109 countries; significant reef degradation has occurred in 93
From 1876-1979 only three bleaching events were recorded, whereas 60 are on record from 1980 until 1993; in 2002 more than 400 events were recorded
We have already lost 27% of the world's coral reefs. If present rates of destruction are allowed to continue, 60% of the world's coral reefs will be destroyed over the next 30 years
More than 450 million people live within 60 kilometres of coral reefs, with the majority directly or indirectly deriving food and income from them
The total economic value of Indonesia 's reefs is estimated at US$1.6 billion annually
The total economic value of Philippine reefs is estimated at US$1.1 billion annually
Coral reefs in the Malacca Straits have an economic value of US$563 million
Southeast Asia is considered the global epicentre of marine diversity. Its 100,000km² of coral reefs (34% of the world's total) are home to over 600 of the 800 reef-building coral species in the world
Indonesia and the Philippines hold 77% of Southeast Asia's coral reefs and nearly 80% of threatened reefs