Coral Reef Research Paper

Abstract- Coral reefs make up a high percentage of the biodiversity found within the ocean. Countries that have coral reefs along their coastline greatly benefit economically from the use of coral reefs. The overuse of dive sites, land based pollution, destructive fishing, and climate change coral reefs have been steadily declining. The loss of coral reefs will be felt worldwide by a reduction in billions of dollars to the world’s gross domestic product. There is a strong need for proper management of coral reefs with some already in place.

The Economic Impact of Destruction among Coral Reefs Coral reefs are found throughout the oceans around the world, which are complex ecosystems that provide a wide variety of economic value. Millions

A study in 2007 estimated that coral reef recreation produced $184 per visit around the globe. (Conservation International, 2008, p.8) There are many components of tourism that are involved in relation to coral reefs. Some of the components include hotels, shops, harbors, sports facilities, marinas, and scuba diving. Tourism is the fasted growing industry in the world at a rate of 4.6% in the year 2000 and dive tourism increasing by 20% per year. Scuba diving alone generates $1.2 billion to the world’s economy annually. (Cesar, Burke, & Pet-Soede, 2003, p.11) In the Caribbean scuba diving account for $2.1 billion on average towards the overall economic value of the countries coral reefs (Conservation International, 2008, p.8), with scuba diving accounting for $700.0 million to $1.6 billion annually in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (Conservation International, 2008, p.12), and around $100 million annually for the coral reef in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii (Conservation International, 2008,

Coral reefs slow incoming waves from coastal storm and can absorb up to 90% of the wave energy that are created from winds (Coral Reefs Protect Coastlines), which depends on the size and depth of the coral reef (Zanten, Beukering, & Wagtendonk, 2014, p.97). A coastal storm can cost an average of $500 million per event in the United States. It is estimated that $47,000 in property value is protected with every meter of a coral reef. (Coral Reefs Protect Coastlines) Around the world coral reefs offer the same protection. In the Caribbean, coral reefs offer protection around $700-$2.2 billion annually (Conservation International, 2008, p.20), Guam around $8.4 million a year, Sri Lanka around $8.1 million per year, and St. Lucia between $28 and $50 million per year. (Conservation International, 2008, p.21) Coral reefs offer more than just protection to private property; they also serve as a buffer zone for between waves and mangroves. By dissipating the energy of waves from the coastline a suitable habitat for mangroves and seagrass can be formed. Mangroves and seagrass play a vital role in filtering inorganic and organic substances from that water. This in turn helps the coral reefs grow by creating nutrient poor water that promotes coral growth. (Moberg & Folke, 1999,