Rebuilding Coral Reefs Could Boost Seafood Supply for Millions

Efforts to rebuild depleted fish stocks on the world’s coral reefs could significantly increase the supply of sustainable seafood, according to a new international study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The research finds that if coral reef fish populations are allowed to recover to healthier levels, sustainable fish harvests could rise by nearly 50 percent—an increase that could translate into millions of additional seafood meals each year for communities that depend on the ocean for nutrition and livelihoods.

The study highlights how widespread overfishing has left many coral reef ecosystems producing far less food than they are biologically capable of supplying.

“Our study quantifies just how much potential food production has been lost because coral reef fish communities are so heavily depleted,” said Jessica Zamborain-Mason, a professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the study’s lead author. “It also shows how much could be gained if we allow these fish populations to rebuild.”

A Global Opportunity for Food Security

The research paper, titled “Potential yield and food provisioning gains from rebuilding the world’s coral reef fish stocks,” was published on December 16, 2025, in PNAS. Using data from 1,211 coral reef sites across 23 jurisdictions worldwide, the researchers assessed current fish biomass levels and modeled different recovery and management scenarios.

They found that in many regions, coral reef fish biomass is well below the level needed to support maximum sustainable production. As a result, current fishing yields are far lower than what healthy reefs could provide over the long term.

According to the study’s modeling, rebuilding fish stocks to optimal levels could increase sustainable harvests by almost 50 percent compared with today’s yields. In practical terms, this could mean an additional 20,000 to 162 million servings of fish per year per country, depending on local conditions and reef extent. In some jurisdictions, the added production could meet recommended seafood intake levels for up to 1.4 million additional people annually.

How Long Would Recovery Take?

The time required for coral reef fish stocks to recover depends heavily on how fisheries are managed, the study found.

Under the fastest recovery scenario—a temporary moratorium on fishing—average recovery to a biomass level capable of supporting maximum sustainable yields could occur in about 6.4 years. Less restrictive approaches, such as continued fishing with reduced catch limits, could extend recovery timelines dramatically, in some cases to nearly 50 years.

While fishing bans can pose short-term economic challenges for coastal communities, the researchers argue that the long-term benefits are substantial.

“This is not about stopping fishing forever,” Zamborain-Mason said. “It’s about allowing stocks to rebuild so that fisheries can deliver more food, more consistently, in the future.”

The study emphasizes that the largest food security benefits would likely occur in regions already facing nutritional challenges. Countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, where millions of people rely on reef fish as a primary source of protein and essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, stand to gain the most from rebuilding coral reef fisheries.

In these areas, reef fish are not only an economic resource but also a critical component of daily diets—particularly for small-scale fishing communities with limited access to alternative protein sources.

“Rebuilding coral reef fisheries isn’t just a conservation issue,” said Sean Connolly, a senior scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and a co-author of the study. “It has very real implications for human nutrition and food security, especially in parts of the world where people have few substitutes for seafood.”

Tackling hunger and micronutrient deficiencies by rebuilding reef fish stocks to maximum production levels. (A) Jurisdiction-specific estimated number of additional people who could meet yearly fish intake recommendations from the sustainable yields generated from recovering fish assemblages to MMSY values. (B and C) Relationship between the estimated number of people that could meet yearly fish intake recommendations from recovering reef fish assemblages to MMSY values and (B) global hunger and (C) hidden hunger indices. Each point is a jurisdiction classified as below B_MMSY with available index information (i.e., jurisdictions in panel A that are not highlighted in panels B and C did not have these indices available, Materials and Methods). Points are color-coded by the estimated yield gains based on jurisdiction-specific per-unit-area yield gains to MMSY extrapolated to the estimated reef area open to fishing (excluding the percentage of area estimated to be protected; Materials and Methods). Point size in A–C is scaled based on the % of the coastal population that could meet yearly fish intake recommendations from gained yields (i.e., additional people who would benefit from recovering fisheries as a percentage of the coastal population).

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Coral Health and Climate Pressures

The researchers caution that restoring fish stocks alone is not enough. Healthy fish populations depend on healthy coral reef habitats, which are increasingly threatened by climate change, ocean warming, coral bleaching, pollution, and coastal development.

Rising sea temperatures have already caused mass bleaching events that weaken reef structures and reduce habitat complexity—key factors that support diverse fish communities. Without parallel efforts to protect coral habitats, the food-production potential identified in the study may not be fully realized.

“This research underscores the urgency of integrated management,” Connolly said. “Protecting coral reefs, managing fisheries sustainably, and addressing climate stressors all have to happen together.”

The authors acknowledge that rebuilding coral reef fisheries presents social and economic challenges, particularly for small-scale fishers who depend on daily catches for income and food.

They argue that recovery strategies must be paired with strong governance, effective enforcement, and social support systems, including alternative livelihoods or compensation during recovery periods.

“Successful rebuilding will require collaboration among scientists, governments, and local communities,” Zamborain-Mason said. “Fishers need to see tangible long-term benefits, not just restrictions.”

Examples from marine protected areas around the world suggest that when recovery is well managed and locally supported, fish populations rebound, catches increase in surrounding areas, and coastal communities ultimately benefit.

Letting the Ocean Do More

The PNAS study delivers a clear message: the world’s coral reefs, though heavily stressed, still hold enormous untapped potential to support human nutrition if given the chance to recover.

Rather than pushing reefs beyond their limits, the researchers argue that strategic pauses in fishing and improved management could allow ecosystems to replenish themselves—producing more food over time than current practices allow.

“Healthy reefs mean healthier fisheries,” Connolly said. “And healthier fisheries mean more reliable food for millions of people who depend on the sea.”

Published in late 2025, the study adds to growing scientific evidence that conservation and food security are not competing goals. In the case of coral reefs, rebuilding nature may be one of the most effective ways to feed people in a warming and increasingly crowded world. (Sulung Prasetyo)