By far the most serious threat to the future viability (ecological and economical) of coral resources on Narikel Jinjira is over-exploitation. The main natural resource exploitation activity that brings sustenance to the local population is an offshore. Fishery for pelagic fish.

The impact of past fishing activities is difficult to assess, however, considering the fact that primary productivity (pelagic and benthic) in the is high. The impact of the bottom gill nets on the coral community is sever. Dragging the weighted nets along the bottom will result in some degree of damage. 

Of all the marine habitats on the island, the lower intertidal is the most heavily exploited. Shell collection is the main activity. Bulk of the shell collecting is done by children, mostly under 13 years of age during low tides. 

The main threat to future viability of coral communities comes from direct extraction of coral colonies. Until recently, Acropora was the main group exploited for the curio trade. Most of the corals collected were sold in Cox's Bazar. This practice has recently changed, most likely to the fact that Acropora are now becoming relatively rare. 

Coral collecting started in the 1950s by one family. This relatively low level of exploitation continued until about 10 years ago. All corals collected by the boats are sold to the middlemen. Inspection of coral stocks at the houses of the Collectors revealed the information regardy extraction of about 30000 coral colonies per year that inclides sps of Acropora, Favites, Goniastrea.

Threats to Coral Resources 

The following is a tabular representation of major threats to coral resources on Narikel Jinjira. 

Anthropogenic Threats

• Coastal erosion

• Turbidity and sedimentation

• Coral extraction

• Shell extraction

• Intertidal boulder removal

• Coral use for construction and lime

• Destructive fishing techniques

• Tourism activities

• Domestic pollution

• Agricultural pollution

• Oil pollution from boats

• Boat anchoring

• Fish Processing

• Boat building

• Over fishing

Natural Threats

• Cyclones and storms

• Sedimentation and resuspension

• Freshwater flooding

• Earthquakes

Major Anthropogenic Threats: 

The key concern that needs immediate attention is the over-exploitation of renewable natural resources. Here are some points should be taken in major consideration. 

• Major threats arise from the overexploitation of renewable marine and coastal resources such as rocky reef fisheries, coral extractions, removal of coastal sands and shell deposition and base rock collection of live mollusks and other invertebrates.
   

• Large-scale removal occurred from corals and mollusks. Destructive fishing practices mainly due to use of rock-weighted gill nets over the inshore boulder reefs.
   

• Sewage and waste disposal in the island are increasing as tourism being developed in an unsustainable manner. Tourist hotel currently at the west beach connected their sewage line to seawater that will impact seriously in future. This uncontrolled waste disposal if increase further may have a serve impact of the ground water and intertidal biodiversity.
   

• The fish offal on the sandy shore of the eastern and northern beach have created local hygienic problem, which is intense during the peak-fishing season. The offal is normally discarded on the open beach, which in turn has deleterious impact on animal and human life.
   

• Man-made alteration is serious though coastal development as in the name of coastal protection from tidal in surge. Large-scale removal of intertidal boulders for coastal protection and clearance for boat anchoring has been occurred since long time before. It prevents nesting turtle to emerge up to the dry sandy beach.