“Here in Hawai‘i, Gulko said, “most people understand the vital importance of corals to the health of the ocean. They provide habitat for fish and other aquatic life and reefs protect the land from ocean currents and storm events. They are the backbone of the planet and a critical part of the web of life. Without coral reefs the ocean will cease to provide anything of value to people. That’s why it’s so important that we all do everything we can to protect our coral reefs.”