(4) Coral Reefs Provide
Support ...
1.Tourism.
2.Fisheries.
3.Aesthetic and recreational activities.
4.The protection of beaches & coastal infrastructure by reducing wave energy reaching the coastal.
5.The production of sand that forms the white-sand beaches
Coral reefs are of critical importance to the the economic development of states in the Caribbean Region.
•Coral reefs are much more than environmental curiosities,
they are an integral part of the cultures and economies of
tropical islands and low lying coastal states of the Caribbean.
•Living coral reefs form natural, renewable breakwaters that protect coast lines from
•storm damage,erosion and flooding by reducing wave action on
tropical coastlines (Hoegh-Guldberg, (1999)
•Reefs generate the sand that forms the white sand beaches that
 are the focus of much of the regions tourism.
•directly and indirectly support the fisheries and tourism industries in tropical
countries.
•Although  a number Caribbean countries are diversifying their tourism products to
include, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, the regions tourism product is
still primarily focused on sun, sea and sand. It has been estimated
that the reefs of the Caribbean generate approximately US $90 billion
per year (Jameson et al 1995).
 and that  SCUBA diving alone will generate almost $US1 billion by the
year 2005 (US Department of State 1998).