Shoreline Protection by Coral Reefs, Relative Reef Contribution - St. Lucia

The relative stability of St. Lucia’s shoreline was evaluated using the coastal protection framework developed by IMA and WRI. Data on coastal geomorphology, geology, vegetation, wave height, storm events, elevation, and slope, were integrated with coral reef type, continuity, and distance offshore to evaluate the stability of the shoreline. Shoreline stability is, in general, higher on the leeward coast, and in areas of steep terrain. Wide bays in the southeast and northwest have the lowest shoreline stability.

The framework was also used to evaluate the contribution of coral reefs to shoreline stability. The relative reef contribution is zero in areas not protected by a coral reef, and ranges from 20 percent to nearly 50 percent in some areas. Areas along Point Sable in the southeast, some bays along the southeast coast, and bays in the northeast have the highest proportion of shoreline stability provided by coral reefs.