Effects of Coral Reef Attribute Damage on Recreational Welfare

This paper presents the results of an economic valuation of coral reef degradation at Eilat, Israeli Red Sea. We estimate the marginal prices of coral and fish diversity and water visibility at US$2.60 and US$1.20 per dive, respectively. From the standpoint of recreational diving welfare, the annual social costs of activities contributing to coral reef degradation are approximately US$2.86 million. To our knowledge, this is the first economic valuation of individual coral reef attributes and the first application of a choice experiment to coral reef valuation.