McLean M. auteur aut IRD Mouillot D. auteur aut IRD Langlois J. auteur aut IRD Arif S. auteur aut IRD Bejarano S. auteur aut IRD Casajus N. auteur aut IRD Edgar G. J. auteur aut IRD Flandrin U. auteur aut IRD Guilhaumon François auteur aut IRD Judah A. B. auteur aut IRD Loiseau N. auteur aut IRD MacNeil M. A. auteur aut IRD Maire Eva auteur aut IRD Stuart-Smith R. D. auteur aut IRD Mouquet N. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access On shallow rocky and coral reefs, cultural and recreational values, like aesthetics, are critical aspects of Nature's Contributions to People (NCP) that support human well- being and provide billions of dollars in tourism revenue. Quantifying the aesthetic value of reef ecosystems and uncovering the conditions that enhance it could support NCP- based management. Here, we combine a global dataset of reef fish surveys, species- level aesthetic values, and causal modeling to assess the global status and drivers of reef fish assemblage aesthetic value. We find that aesthetic value is inherently linked to species richness, displaying a latitudinal gradient with peaks in the tropics, but varies strongly with the presence of exceptionally beautiful or less- beautiful species. Sea surface temperature, primary productivity, human gravity, and protection status are the strongest drivers of assemblage- level aesthetic value. Protection against human impacts consistently enhances aesthetic value by boosting taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, and this effect is greatest in species- rich, tropical ecoregions. Economic development has little influence, indicating that low- income countries are not constrained from maintaining beautiful fish assemblages. Our results therefore suggest that marine protected areas (MPAs) can support multiple NCPs simultaneously, particularly in developing tropical countries. While we highlight the effectiveness of MPAs, given the low level of marine protection globally and the sensitivity of aesthetic value to environmental conditions, the beauty of the world's reefs appears severely threatened. Aesthetic value should be immediately integrated into reef conservation and management plans. specialized ecology ecosystem services conservation causal inference MONDE 036 082 122 25 e2415931122 [11 p.] 2025 0027-8424 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094353 10.1073/pnas.2415931122 0027-8424 [F B010094353] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094353 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2025-08/010094353.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2025-08-27 2026-06-12 fdi:010094353 fre