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Main Menu : Estuary Basics :The Economics of EstuariesAn estuary is also a tremendous economic resource which provides jobs to coastal communities. The U.S. coasts generate more than 28 million jobs. These jobs come from commercial and recreational fishing which alone employ 1.5 million people and contribute $111 billion to the nation's economy. And it's important to keep in mind that: Estuaries do far more for our economy than supporting industries and providing jobs. Estuaries provide significant "services" which directly benefit Americans. For example, estuaries protect landowners from flood waters and provide important buffers that protect water quality by filtering runoff. Beyond these measurable benefits, estuaries are at the heart of so many of our coastal communities. Without healthy estuaries, ways of life that have defined our communities for generations would disappear. The value of restoring and strengthening our estuaries can, in the end, really only be measured by the value each of us place on the quality of life we pass on to our future generations. |