Like all other animals, fish, shrimp, crabs and other marine life at sea, they need a safe place to grow away from many predators. With its roots tangled and complex, mangroves are excellent nurseries, providing safe havens for young animals. The turbid waters around them are rich in nutrients from decaying leaves and organic matter produced by the mangroves themselves and the sediment is trapped around the roots.
Many commercial marine species such as bangus (milkfish) and shrimp spend their first years of life in the mangrove area, where they find food and protection from predators. Juveniles of some deep-sea fish also spend some time in the mangroves before moving on to other ecosystems such as seagrass beds and coral reefs.
In addition, mangroves are home to shore birds, some species of mammals (monkeys, rats, etc.) reptiles and insects. These animals use mangroves as places to sleep, or shelter from winds or hot sun. They also serve as sentinels of the coast and the pollution of the basin, besides being a source of firewood, poles, charcoal, and tannin.
Mangroves are essential for fish production. They are extraordinary rich habitats that serve as life support systems to 75 percent of fish species caught in the area, as well as an undetermined number of crustaceans and wildlife. A good number of fish and marine invertebrates live in areas of mangroves in some stages of its life cycle and consider the mangroves as their "home." The loss of mangroves directly translates into losses in fish catch and food supply.
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