Healthy coral reefs support commercial and subsistence fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. Approximately half of all federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs and related habitats for a portion of their life cycles. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) estimates the commercial value of U.S. fisheries from coral reefs is over $100 million.

Local economies also receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.

For more information on the economic value of coral reefs and how reefs provide jobs and income, see the following links:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems. NOAA Fisheries works directly with eight regional fishery management councils to manage living marine resources. www.nmfs.noaa.gov.

The mission of the American Fisheries Society is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. www.fisheries.org.

UN Atlas of the Oceans: The Value of Coral Reefs. This site gives short but useful descriptions of the values of coral reefs in providing seafood, new medicines, other products, recreational value and coastal protection. It is part of the United Nations Atlas of the Oceans, and is maintained by the World Resources Institute. www.oceansatlas.com.

Economic Value of Hawaii's Coral Reefs. This collection of resources was created by the Hawai’i Coral Reef Initiative Research Program (HCRI-RP). One of HCRI-RP's goals is to provide decision-makers with quantitative information on the value of Hawai’i's coral reefs. www.hawaii.edu/ssri/hcri/ev/index.htm.

Reefs at Risk. The World Resources Institute has released Reefs at Risk in Southeast Asia, which provides a detailed analysis of threats to coral reefs across the region. Chapter 6 focuses on the economic loss associated with coral reef degradation. http://reefsatrisk.wri.org/.

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