Ecosystems: Coral Reef Ecosystems - Critical Coastal Habitat
Coral reef ecosystems support a vast diversity of species and provide our Nation with a variety of ecological, economic, and cultural benefits. Approximately half of the coral reef ecosystem resources under U.S. or Freely Associated State jurisdiction are in "poor" or "fair" condition and have declined over time due to several natural and anthropogenic threats.
- 75%
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Percent of U.S. coral resources in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico region that are rated in "Poor" or "Fair" condition.
Source: Waddell and Clarke, 2008
- 31%
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Percent of U.S. coral resources in the Pacific region that are rated in "Poor" or "Fair" condition.
Source: Waddell and Clarke, 2008
- $483 million
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Approximate annual net benefit to the U.S. economy from tourism and recreation activities related to US coral reefs.
Source: Cesar et al., 2003
- $1.1 billion
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Approximate annual net benefits to the U.S. economy from overall goods and services provided by US coral reefs.
Source: Cesar et al., 2003
Download Coral Reef Interactive Map and Data (952kb)
Source: NOAA - The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008
About this Topic
This topic highlights the condition of U.S. Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Pacific (including Freely Associated States) and the Caribbean. The data are from a NOAA report on The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems and include four condition indicators: water quality, live coral, reef fish, and harvest biota. Data are also presented on the threats to the coral reef ecosystems. In general, the data show that the coral ecosystems in the most parts of the Pacific are in better condition than in the Caribbean region. For the Pacific, water quality is better than fair for all states; live coral is better than fair for all except Guam where it is close to poor; reef fish is fair to good for all except Guam, Northern Marianas, and Main Hawaiian Islands which are less than fair condition; harvest biota is poor for all but the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Pacific Remote Islands. In the Caribbean, water quality is ranked good only at Navassa Island and Flower Garden Banks; live coral, reef fish, and harvest biota conditions are good only at Flower Garden Banks. For this topic, two Management Success stories are presented: Marine Protected Areas - A Proven Way to Protect and Coral Reef Biodiversity Benefits to Human Health (includes a video on Medicines from the Sea). Also presented is a Case Study on Trends in Coral Resource Condition and Threat Level.
Closer Look
Relevant Links
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008 (Waddell and Clarke, 2008)
http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/coral2008/
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/
The Economics of Worldwide Coral Reef Degradation
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdf
