Every aspect of the Eritrean Red Sea speaks of yet untapped potential, ranging from the establishment of bustling ports, tourism value of the islands and the coastal areas to the rich biodiversity within the sea. It is a generally acknowledged fact that the riches of the Red Sea have yet to be fully exploited so as to have a significant impact on the nation’s economy. The world has yet to know about the untouched wealth that lies beneath the clear blue waters of the Eritrean Red Sea. One of the significant Eritrean marine resources is the coral reefs. Vast spreads of spectacular coral reefs are found in the off shore islands and like much of the other resources in the Red Sea, they have yet to be fully discovered.

 

Coral reefs are significant coral reefs to any given country blessed to possess them. In addition to being part of a country’s heritage, coral reefs are a major source of income through tourism as well.

 

The coral reefs in Eritrea are unique in that they have been yet untouched and undamaged by destructive methods of fishing. In most parts of the world the reefs are usually damaged beyond repair. In many countries, the coral reefs are dead or dying, damaged, polluted or blown up by explosive fishing. But in Eritrea, there is none of that; the reefs are in very good condition.

 

As several studies point out, coral reefs in the world are now all mostly damaged because of climate change, damaging fishing practices (such as cyanide and blast fishing), over fishing, sedimentation, pollution and bleaching. General estimates show approximately 10% of the coral reefs around the world are already dead.

 

Eritrea’s coral reefs are in the most pristine condition. The reefs here are the most temperature resistant and this might be one of the reasons that they are still in the best condition. Human impact and climate changes are the major factors for reef damage, but here the islands are virtually uninhabited and the reefs look like they are in a condition as they would have been hundreds of years ago.