An intact coral reef would be quite helpful for the people around Amed since marine life starts in coral reefs and is therefore a fundamental source for sea-food; it also protects the beach from big waves and prevents the process of erosion. In the late 80's the beach in front of Hotel Uyah Amed was approximately 100 meters wider than it is today, before the sea started to take possession of it step by step, year by year. The sea took back land, formerly used as salt fields by the salt farmers. But can we really be angry with the people from Amed earning their hard living as fishermen or as salt farmers until today?! It is quite obvious that they had no idea of what was destroyed by using the corals for building their houses nor did they have a clue of the importance of corals for the ocean and its marine life. But things have changed and by now especially the fishermen became aware and start to understand the essential function of a coral reef - both for the ocean and for their living. It must be noted that not just the disappearance of the coral reef in Amed contributed to this land loss but also the continuous rise of the sea level is a decisive factor - Global warming is not a new phenomena and its effects are visible in Amed.