World Wildlife Fund

Destroyed coral reef as result of dynamite fishing
© WWF-Canon / Jürgen FREUND

WWF is working at all levels—from the individual fisherman to multinational companies and across international borders—to focus on five key areas that present the best opportunities to solve the challenges facing the Coral Triangle.

Sustainable coastal fisheries
One of the most lucrative and distinctive of the region’s reef-based fisheries is the live reef fish trade with an estimated value in 2002 of $810 million. WWF’s strategy seeks to replace destructive fishing practices with sustainable ones; reduce over-fishing of wild stocks, promote the uptake of best management practices and sustainable full-cycle mariculture; and promote sustainably sourced fish in restaurants in target Asian cities.

WWF research diver in the Coral Triangle.
© WWF-Canon / Jürgen Freund

Sustainable off-shore fisheries
The Coral Triangle is home to the world’s largest population of commercially-important tuna species, supplying 50 percent of global tuna production. Our strategy will seek to develop new approaches to channel some of the benefits derived back to tuna resource management in Coral Triangle countries; ensure ecologically based fisheries management that delivers equitable benefits to island communities; reduce illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; implement incentives for sustainable fishing practices; and help inform and engage civil society on the importance, status and management of oceanic fisheries resources.

Marine protected areas
Thousands of communities depend on seafood as their primary source of protein and income generation. To prevent the loss of biodiversity and prevent further fisheries collapse, well-designed and well-managed networks of marine protected areas and locally managed marine areas are essential. Our strategy will seek to establish mechanisms that provide long-term financial support for effectively managed marine protected areas and locally managed marine areas in the Coral Triangle.

Local fishermen in the Coral Triangle
© WWFCanon / Jürgen Freund

Protecting marine turtles in the Indo-Pacific
The Coral Triangle is home to six of the seven species of marine turtle but threats in the region are significant. In recognition of the crucial ecological role turtles play in maintaining the health and productivity of marine food chains, Our strategy will seek to protect turtles in critical nesting, foraging, and migratory habitats through the establishment of protected areas and the reduction of turtle bycatch through gear change and the promotion of best fishing practices.

Reducing the impacts of climate change and tourism
Global warming is arguably the single biggest threat to the region’s marine productivity. WWF’s strategy will seek to promote an alliance of governments and the tourism/travel sector to actively support emissions reduction measures and implement adaptation measures to reduce the impact of climate change on the region’s coral reefs. 

For additional information on WWF's Coral Triangle Program, please visit

WWF-Fiji

WWF-Indonesia

WWF-Malaysia

WWF-Papua New Guinea

WWF-Philippines

WWF-Solomon Islands