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3.3
The Habitat Service Provided by Mangrove and Seagrass
Fish Nurseries
Mangroves and seagrass beds and meadows serve as fish
nurseries and breeding grounds for surrounding ecosystems
and societies, thereby fulfilling an important habitat service
(or “supporting service”).
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For the west and central African
region, the economic impact of mangrove and seagrass
fish nurseries is estimated at US$ 1.8 billion. The impact
from GCLME mangroves comprises approximately US$ 1.5
billion (US$ 828/ha) of the total,
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CCLME mangrove fish
nurseries contribute approximately US$ 280.5 million (US$
425.6/ha) and CCLME seagrass beds and meadows about
US$ 42.8 million (US$ 425.6/ha). These figures are based the
assumption that fish nursery services account for 10 per
cent of the entire MSY DOI of ocean fisheries.
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This 10 per
cent is subtracted from both the GCLME and the CCLME MSY
DOI totals in order to avoid double-counting the impact of
fish nurseries.
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