A Boost for our Economy!
Coral reefs cover an area of over 280,000 kilometers and house thousands of species in what you have already learned that many people call the “rainforests of the seas”. These underwater rainforests are a huge source of tourism and even food for people all over the United States and the world.
Why does it matter so much?
According the the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), coral reefs bring in more than $30 billion US dollars each year in global services and goods. When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) adds in the economic services provided (jobs, etc..), they estimate that coral reefs are worth as much as $375 billion dollars per year.
Not to mention, these habitats are critical to the wellbeing of our oceans.
Tourism
Coral reefs are beautiful natural ecosystems. Many people pick cities where they can see coral reefs for their vacation. They can dive with certain companies and take a look at them closely. There are also other tourist businesses that flourish from the coral reefs being in their city. In Florida and Hawaii, tourism that comes from coral reefs brings in more money and creates more jobs than the commercial fishing that is directly linked to coral reefs. In Florida, tourism of the coral reefs brings in an estimated number of $50 billion annually. In Hawaii, tourism of the coral reefs brought in approximately 6.7 million tourists and $11.4 billion in 2008. Any coral reef will bring in tourists to see them. Tourists spend money, which in turn, benefit our economy.
Jobs
Coral reefs support commercial and subsistence fishing, as well as create jobs and businesses through tourism and also recreation. (Examples: tour guides, diving guides, hotel workers, fishermen, businesses that thrive off of tourism) Over half of all the federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs or other related habitats to stay in business. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has done studying and concluded that the commercial value of U.S. fisheries from the coral reefs is over $100 million.
Local city and town economies also receive billions of dollars from tourists of the coral reefs through diving tours, restaurants, fishing trips, hotels and resorts, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.
So what happens if coral reefs go away?
The United States and every other country with coral reefs lose millions of jobs. Hotels, restaurants, diving companies, resorts, and fishing companies may go out of business. Tourism rich cities lose money everywhere. People will not be able to enjoy the beauty of the reefs. The entire ecosystem in the ocean will be thrown off and we could lose entire populations of fish.
The death of coral reefs...
Complete the worksheet using the following link AND the subtab titled ICRI under the tab Agencies:
http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0326/Death-of-coral-reefs-could-devastate-nations
Why does it matter so much?
According the the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), coral reefs bring in more than $30 billion US dollars each year in global services and goods. When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) adds in the economic services provided (jobs, etc..), they estimate that coral reefs are worth as much as $375 billion dollars per year.
Not to mention, these habitats are critical to the wellbeing of our oceans.
Tourism
Coral reefs are beautiful natural ecosystems. Many people pick cities where they can see coral reefs for their vacation. They can dive with certain companies and take a look at them closely. There are also other tourist businesses that flourish from the coral reefs being in their city. In Florida and Hawaii, tourism that comes from coral reefs brings in more money and creates more jobs than the commercial fishing that is directly linked to coral reefs. In Florida, tourism of the coral reefs brings in an estimated number of $50 billion annually. In Hawaii, tourism of the coral reefs brought in approximately 6.7 million tourists and $11.4 billion in 2008. Any coral reef will bring in tourists to see them. Tourists spend money, which in turn, benefit our economy.
Jobs
Coral reefs support commercial and subsistence fishing, as well as create jobs and businesses through tourism and also recreation. (Examples: tour guides, diving guides, hotel workers, fishermen, businesses that thrive off of tourism) Over half of all the federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs or other related habitats to stay in business. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has done studying and concluded that the commercial value of U.S. fisheries from the coral reefs is over $100 million.
Local city and town economies also receive billions of dollars from tourists of the coral reefs through diving tours, restaurants, fishing trips, hotels and resorts, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.
So what happens if coral reefs go away?
The United States and every other country with coral reefs lose millions of jobs. Hotels, restaurants, diving companies, resorts, and fishing companies may go out of business. Tourism rich cities lose money everywhere. People will not be able to enjoy the beauty of the reefs. The entire ecosystem in the ocean will be thrown off and we could lose entire populations of fish.
The death of coral reefs...
Complete the worksheet using the following link AND the subtab titled ICRI under the tab Agencies:
http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0326/Death-of-coral-reefs-could-devastate-nations