For many Pacific island communities, healthy reefs provide far more than marine habitat. Kindinger, whose research focuses on reef fish communities, said coral bleaching threatens not only corals themselves but also the fish that rely on reef ecosystems throughout their lives. “So reef loss continues to be of gravest concern for reef fish, since it’s already happening at a global scale.” He said the contrast between protected reefs and heavily fished areas is immediately noticeable underwater. Healthy fish populations also play an important role in helping reefs recover after bleaching or storm damage.