South Florida Aquatic Environments
Coral Reefs
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| IMPORTANCE OF CORAL REEFS
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Nassau Grouper
© Mary Lou Frost
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Coral reefs are important for:
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Fisheries
- Reefs provide habitat for important recreational and subsistence fisheries
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Over 500 federally managed fish and invertebrate species depend upon coral reefs and related habitats, including four
Endangered Species Act candidate species. Throughout the world fisheries,
coral reefs yield many tons of commercial fish catch annually. Reefs also provide important recreational and subsistence fisheries.
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Shoreline
courtesy South Florida Water Management District
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Shoreline Protection
- Reefs prevent loss of life and property by protecting shorelines
| Coral reefs prevent loss of life and property as well as erosion and flooding by reducing wave action along shorelines. Coral reefs also provide the sediments that eventually become sand on Florida's beautiful beaches.
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Shoreline
courtesy South Florida Water Management District
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Pharmaceuticals
- Reefs are considered "medicine cabinets" of the future!
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Considered "medicine cabinets" of the future, coral reef organisms hold great promise for pharmaceuticals including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs. Coral skeletons are also utilized as bone substitutes in reconstructive bone surgery.
SCUBA Divers
courtesy OAR/National Undersea Research Program |
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Tourism
- Reefs attract ecotourism and much needed currency for local economies
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Eco-tourism has developed dramatically during recent years, attracting millions of tourists every year. Many tropical countries rely on tourism to bring much needed foreign currency in order to support local economies.
Research Biologists
courtesy OAR/National Undersea Research Program |
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Education
- Reefs are "living laboratories" for scientists and students
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Coral reefs are "living laboratories" where scientists as well as students can study the ecology and impacts on this habitat, relating such information to other environments, including the earth as a whole.
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