KAUST study shows recovering reef fish stocks could boost sustainable food supply by nearly 50%

Summary

A KAUST-led study published in PNAS quantifies the potential for increased food supply through coral reef restoration. Analyzing over 1,200 reef sites, the research estimates that rebuilding depleted fish populations could increase sustainable yields by nearly 50%. For Indonesia, this could translate to 162 million additional servings of reef fish annually. Why it matters: The study provides crucial evidence for governments to strengthen food security and ecosystem resilience through fisheries management, especially in regions facing high malnutrition.