What Are Fringing Reefs?

Coral reefs are underwater worlds inhabited by thousands or even millions of sea creatures. The three main types of coral reefs are barrier reefs, atoll reefs and fringing reefs. Fringing reefs are the most common type and can be found in many parts of the Greater Caribbean and the Red Sea.

  1. Location

    • Fringing reefs are found on coastlines.

      Fringing reefs always form very close to a shoreline. Thus, you will find them surrounding islands or on the coast of tropical countries. These reefs characterize the first stage of "reef evolution." The later stages are barrier reefs and atolls.

    Formation

    • As the fringing reef moves farther from the shore, the plant and animal life increases.

      Fringing reefs grow very slowly, expanding just 0.07 to 0.2 inches a year, taking them millions of years to form. They are made up of two parts. First, the reef flat. This is the part found closest to the shore and in the shallowest water. The coral in this section is often exposed to the elements (at low tide) and to human pollution, thus, it is often dead. The second section is where the reef drops into the greater ocean. It is farther away from the coast and in much deeper water. Here you will find the most diversity of coral and fish as well as other sea life.

    Famous Fringing Reefs

    • Some of the largest fringing reefs in the world can be found in Australia.

      Coral reefs bring an estimated U.S. $375 billion into the world's economies through tourism and fishing, according to the World Resources Institute. In the United States, tourism from the reefs in Florida bring $1.6 billion into the economy. Some of the most beautiful and famous fringing reefs can be found in Hawaii and the Bahamas. Fringing reefs make up a great part of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the largest coral reef in the world.

    Threat of Extinction

    • Fringing reefs and in fact all coral reefs are coming under the serious threat of extinction. The possible causes of this include over-fishing, global warming, pollution and coral mining. The World Resources Institute produced a study in 2010 which found that 60 percent of the world's reefs are dying, all due to human activity. Fringing reefs in the Caribbean, including Barbados and Jamaica, are particularly at risk because of over-fishing, coastal development and increasing temperatures due to global warming.