Chapter 5. Economic implications of coral reef degradation

Healthy coral reefs confer significant economic benefits to both coastal communities and national economies. These benefits diminish with coral reef degradation. Key economic and social benefits associated with healthy coral reefs include high fishery yields, high tourism-related incomes, protection from coastal erosion, and good nutrition for coastal communities. [174] The great diversity of life on coral reefs is also being explored for bioactive compounds for pharmaceuticals, and a few high-value products have already been discovered. Degradation of these reefs costs dearly through loss of fishing livelihoods, protein deficiencies and the increased potential for malnutrition, loss of tourism revenue, increased coastal erosion, and the need for investment to stabilize the shoreline.

Many damaging activities