Coral Organisms

Importance to humans
Local economies near major coral reefs benefit from an abundance of fish and other marine creatures as a food source. Reefs also provide recreational scuba diving and snorkeling tourism. Unfortunately these activities can have deleterious effects, such as accidental destruction of coral. Coral is also useful as a protection against hurricanes and other extreme weather.
Coral reefs provide medical benefits for humans. Chemical compounds taken from corals are used in medicine for cancer, AIDS, pain, and other uses. Corals are also commonly used for bone grafting in humans.
Live coral is highly sought after for aquaria. Given the proper ecosystem, live coral makes a stunning addition to any salt water aquarium. Soft corals are easier to maintain in captivity than hard corals.