Caribbean Studies Internal Assessment: Coral Reefs

CHAPTER TWO:
THE LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER TWO:
THE LITERATURE REVIEW

Coral reefs have been dubbed the ‘gardens of the sea.’ Burke and Maidens (2004) describe them as both physical structures and complex ecosystems. The physical structure is formed from the secretions of calcium carbonate by tiny marine organisms called coral polyps, which forms a shell around them (Mohammed, 2007). These shells become cemented together and remain when the reef building polyps die. The basic units of reef growth then are the coral polyps and symbiotic algae that live in the coral tissues which are responsible for creating food from sunlight. This symbiotic relationship is the key factor explaining both the productivity of reefs and the rather strict environmental requirement of corals (Cesar, 2004). This physical structure with a living veneer of corals on its surface provides a haven for a diversity of marine flora and fauna to make up the coral reef ecosystem (Burke et al, 2011). Coral reefs comprise less than one-tenth of one percent of the world’s marine environment, yet are home to at least twenty-five percent of all known marine species.
Different structural types of coral reefs are distinguished but only some exist within the Caribbean:

i. Fringing reefs are the most common type of coral reefs. They develop adjacent to the shore usually along rocky coasts of uplifted islands or along the shores of exposed limestone islands. Burke and Maidens (2004) estimated that 1010-1260 square kilometres of fringing reefs surround Jamaica’s 825 kilometres of coastline. ii. Barrier reefs develop sometimes rather far away from coastlines in areas where coral growth has kept up with gradual drop of the sea-bed. Off Belize coast exists the second largest barrier reef in the world. iii. Finally, atolls are circular reefs that arise from deep sea platforms such as submerged volcanic seamounts. These are rare in the Caribbean, but some are found in the hundreds of islands of which Belize’s barrier reef is composed (Mohammed, 2007).

Cesar (2004) distinguishes coral reef functions and benefits. Functions are those biological, habitat or system properties or processes of reefs. On the other hand, benefits are those goods and services human populations derive from these ecosystem services. Coral reefs have important ecosystem functions, and provide crucial goods and services to the Caribbean. However, only some of these functions are classified as possessing direct economic value to the Caribbean (Burke et al, 2011). Some of these benefits and functions of coral reefs are: the provision of fish and shellfish, medicines and pharmaceuticals, ornaments and building materials; erosion control and storm protection; sand formation; and recreation and tourism (World Resources Institute [WRI], 2011a). The main functions and benefits of coral reefs that are used for coral reef valuation are: tourism value, fish production and shoreline protection (Gustavson, 1998).
The World Resources Institute (2011a), Burke et al (2011) and Gustavson (1998) all agree that coral reefs provide much to the economy through coral reef-related fisheries. These are fisheries that involve the capture of fish that depend on coral reefs, mangroves or reef protected habitat for at least a portion of their lives. In a study carried out by the World Resources Institute and other organisations (2011a), Jamaica’s reef related fisheries support fifteen thousand to twenty thousand active fishermen. In addition, employment through fishing can come in the form of wholesale and retail vendors, processors, gear makers, boat builders and ice suppliers (Scarlett, 2011). Scarlett also went on to say in her article (2011) that those that were employed through reef-related fisheries accounted for 5 percent of the Jamaican population. A more focused study of the Montego Bay Marine Park (MBMP) by Bunce and Gustavson in 1998 estimated that there were 378 fishers within the park boundaries, of which 70 percent were full-time fishers. In their project “Coastal Capital: Jamaica” in 2011, the WRI estimated that coral reefs contributed US$34.3 million per year between 2001 and 2005, which accounted for approximately 0.3 percent of the total annual GDP. For the fishers of the MBMP, their total annual income ranged between US$1.13-1.70 million (Bunce and Gustavson, 1998). It has therefore been proved that coral reef-related fisheries are important for employment of a significant portion of the population, as well as for food security.
The travel and tourism sector plays a critical role in Jamaica’s economy. This sector was projected to account for nearly 24 percent of the GDP in 2011 (WRI, 2011). Burke and Maidens (2004) in their book pointed out that coral reefs “supply much of the sand for the region’s beautiful beaches and lure divers and snorkelers…to come and explore the reefs’ colorful and mysterious depths.” This provides a valid case that coral reefs play a fundamental role in the Caribbean’s thriving tourism industry, including that of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Jamaica’s white coralline beaches signify a main draw for international holidaymakers, and hence provide a critically important contribution to Jamaica’s economy. One of the best ways to highlight the economic contributions of coral reefs to Jamaica’s economy is through the analysis of the dive tourism sector. Scuba divers hunt for superior coral reef habitats (as indicated by live coral coverage), coral and fish diversity, and water clarity. In their research paper that was published in 1998, Bunce and Gustavson pointed out that approximately 200 persons were employed through direct watersports in the MBMP and in addition, twenty-eight dive operations, party cruisers, snorkel businesses, and small-scale watersports businesses operated in Montego Bay. This indicates that coral reefs provide employment for a significant amount of people through the dive tourism sector. Bunce and Gustavson (1998) even went further to say that watersport operators in the expanse of the MBMP took in excess of 3,100 tourists and just about 220 excursions each week, totaling 11,000 excursions and 163,000 tourists per year. Divers constitute roughly 10 percent of all tourists but contribute about 17 percent of all tourism profits (Burke and Maidens, 2004). They further underlined that the typical diver expends about US$2,100 per trip, compared to US$1,200 for common tourists. Therefore where dive tourism is concerned, coral reefs make a hefty contribution.
Coral ecosystems provide important shoreline protection services.