Many of the Caribbean’s most important reefs are going unprotected

Healthy coral reefs can significantly reduce hurricane damage for coastlines, yet many still face harms, including pollution and ship damage, that people have the power to stop.

By: Sara M. Melo Merino, Smithsonian Institution; Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and Steven Canty, Smithsonian Institution, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 12, 2026

Words: 1,040

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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By Sara M. Melo Merino, Smithsonian Institution; Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and Steven Canty, Smithsonian Institution

Living by the sea in the tropics means being exposed to some of nature’s most powerful forces. Hurricanes can bring storm surges, flooding and destructive waves that threaten homes, infrastructure and livelihoods.

For many communities, coral reefs are a natural first line of defense against these storms. The reefs’ rugged structures break the incoming waves, …

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