Furthermore, coral reefs can be classified as biodiversity hotspots with high numbers of endemic species, however, coral bleaching, caused by dramatic climatic events such as El Nino, and increased seawater temperatures have placed this globally significant natural resource under stress. The additional and direct impacts of humans from destructive fishing practices, industrial effluent, agricultural run-off, tourism development and coastal dredging has compounded and accelerated the rate of coral die-off. The only activity of greater benefit to the reefs in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean regions in economic terms is coastal protection (US$1,579 million in the Indian Ocean and US$720 million in the Caribbean).30 Perhaps not surprisingly,