Well-managed marine protected areas can boost scuba diving tourism revenues by up to 252%, linking reef recovery and fish biomass to stronger coastal economies.
That’s the conclusion of recent research led by scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
The team focused on fish biomass, a widely used indicator of reef health that is already monitored at many sites around the world.
Comparing fish biomass levels with dive prices at 23 sites across three ocean regions, the researchers found a clear trend:
- Dive sites with greater fish abundance tended to command higher prices.
- Their projections suggest that well-implemented marine protected areas could see revenues from scuba diving tourism increase by up to 252% over a ten-year period.
However, gains depend heavily on the effectiveness of management. Areas that maintain protection status but lack strong enforcement could see revenue decline as fish populations continue to decline.
“Ecotourism is a key part of these non-extractive economies, often equaling or exceeding the economic impact of extractive uses of the oceans. We define dive tourism not just as a market but as part of a broader strategy for coastal prosperity, where ecosystem recovery supports small businesses, municipal revenues and local employment,” the study states.
Source: tourismtoday.gr