THE AMERICAN BLUE ECONOMY PODCAST

The American Blue Economy Podcast, launched in April on the American Shoreline Podcast Network, a Coastal News Today production. Retired Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, PhD, CEO of Ocean STL Consulting hosts the monthly podcast. Admiral Gallaudet is the former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy NOAA Administrator, and before that Oceanographer of the Navy.

Episode 4: Coral Reefs

Coral reefs contribute to the US economy through areas such as dive tourism (June’s episode), support to fisheries (August), and contributions to coastal resilience (November).  By one estimate, coral reefs provide economic goods and services worth about $375 billion each year worldwide. NOAA suggests that coral reefs in southeast Florida, for example,  have an asset value of $8.5 billion, generating $4.4 billion in local sales, $2 billion in local income, and 70,400 full and part-time jobs. Additionally, in the United States, about half of all federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service estimates the annual commercial and recreational value of U.S. fisheries from coral reefs to be over $200 million.

But their future is challenged by a variety of factors, including bleaching, disease, and ocean warming. In this show, we  describe these, and our stellar panel of guests will show us how partnerships, science, and technology will keep our coral reefs viable through the 21st century. These brilliant panel members include:

  • Dr. Erika Towle, Lynker Technologies, National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Coordinator.
  • Dr. Joshua Feingold, Professor, Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Nova Southeastern University
  • Mike Goldberg, Co-Founder I.Care, Owner, Key Dives
  • Jim Ritterhoff, Executive Director, Force Blue
  • Kevin O’Brien, President at Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project, Inc.
  • Dr. Michael Crosby, President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

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