Coral Reefs

Annual Economic Benefit Provided By Coral Reefs
Tourism & Recreation	$9.6 Billion
Coastal Protection	$9.0 Billion
Fisheries	$5.7 Billion
Biodiversity	$5.5 Billion
Total Annual Economic Benefit	$29.8 Billion

Figures obtained from Economic Values of Coral Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses.

According to Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2002 Coral Reefs provide goods

and services worth US $375 Billion per year.

NOAA Rule Prohibits

The import, export, take, and all commercial activities involving elkhorn and staghorn corals

Collection or any activities that result in the corals’ mortality or injury

Anchoring, grounding a vessel, or dragging any other gear on the species

Damaging the species’ habitat

Discharging any pollutant or contaminant that harms the species

Elkhorn and Staghorn: “These corals were once the major reef builders in Florida and the Caribbean, but now more than 90 percent of their populations are lost,” “That not only threatens their survival-- it affects the entire ecosystem. This rule will strengthen our efforts to recover these corals by allowing us to address the human-induced threats affecting their status.” -Roy Crabtree, NOAA’s Fisheries Service’s southeast regional administrator.

"Living coral reefs are vital to Puerto Rico's fishing and tourist industries, and to the basic ecosystem." From the book Living With The Puerto Rico Shore.

Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Yet less than .5% of Marine Habitats are protected

The federal government’s MPA program defines marine protected areas as "any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein" (E.O. 13158, Federal Register, 2000).

MPAs perform as sites for research and education, as biodiversity reserves, as tools to conserve historic or cultural marine resources, as designations to reduce user conflicts, and to manage natural resources.

MPAs provide varying degrees of protection and permit or prohibit different uses.

Most MPAs permit certain human recreational or commercial activities and some extractive activities such as fishing or shellfish harvesting, while many MPAs prohibit certain extractive activities such as oil and gas drilling.

Benefits of Marine Protected Areas

—Conserves our ocean resources

—Enhancing the reproductive potential of marine species

—Protect long term health of our oceans

—Increased fish size

—Promotes cultural heritage

—Maintaining species diversity

—Preserving habitat

—Preserving ecosystem functions

—Ensure fisheries production

—Spillover

From the book: Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy Baur, Donald C./ Eichenberg, Tim/ Sutton, Michael