Seagrasses are underwater plants that play a vital role in many marine ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for fish and other animals, filter pollutants from the water, stabilize sediments and protect coastlines from erosion. But seagrasses are also under threat from human activities such as coastal development, pollution, overfishing and climate change.
A new study has estimated the economic value of the services that seagrasses provide in the Caribbean region, and found that they are worth about $255 billion annually. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, used data from 12 Caribbean countries and territories to calculate the value of seagrass services such as carbon storage, tourism, fisheries and coastal protection.
The researchers found that seagrasses store about 3.2 billion tons of carbon in their biomass and sediments, which is equivalent to $88.3 billion per year. Seagrasses also support tourism by attracting visitors who enjoy snorkeling, diving and boating in clear waters with abundant marine life. The study estimated that seagrass tourism generates about $40.3 billion per year in the Caribbean.
Another important service that seagrasses provide is supporting fisheries, both directly and indirectly. Seagrasses are home to many commercially important fish species, such as snappers, groupers and lobsters, as well as providing nursery habitats for juvenile fish. The study estimated that seagrass fisheries contribute about $37.4 billion per year to the Caribbean economy.
Finally, seagrasses help protect coastlines from erosion and storm damage by reducing wave energy and stabilizing sediments. The study estimated that seagrass coastal protection is worth about $89 billion per year in the Caribbean.
The authors of the study hope that their findings will raise awareness of the importance of seagrass conservation and management in the Caribbean and elsewhere. They also call for more research on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of seagrass loss and restoration.
