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When considering the advantages of a healthy marine ecosystem and how marine reserves facilitate the improvement of this ecosystem, it is also important to remember the disadvantages that stem from inaction.  For example, when runoff pollutes estuary waters, the presence of a healthy ecosystem with a strong filter-feeding community (a single adult oyster can filter over 60 gallons of water per day!) can go a long way towards mitigating the negative effects (Ulanowicz and Tuttle 1992).  When these benthic filter feeders are absent due to overfishing or dredging, the resulting algal blooms can contaminate the water to the point where people at beaches are at risk "for a host of health problems, including gastroenteritis, respiratory infections — illnesses common in the Third World countries — as well as pink eye, ear infections and skin rashes" (Duswn 2007).  These waters also poison the marine flora and fauna upon which the fishing industry relies so heavily.  It is clear that the health of the oceans correlates strongly to the health of the people.  As such, marine reserves are a necessity for the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems, which in turn will help preserve human health and well-being.

Economics:

Wiki MarkupDespite common assertions to the contrary, marine reserves can have significant economic benefits to society, including the assurance of long-term, sustainable fisheries. Admittedly Admittedly, one of the unfortunate short-term effects of marine reserves is the displacement of fishermen due to the reduction of fishable waters, higher levels of congestion, and potential competition.    However, in the long term, the establishment of a network of protected areas will inevitably create "optimal harvesting area\[s\]" with "higher resource rents" (Grafton, Komas, & Pham 2006) under controlled fishing rates. Our  Our particular proposal is designed to mitigate the short term costs, while attempting to ensure that enough of the ocean is protected so that the future potential can be realized.

But perhaps even more exciting are the beneficial economic effects of marine reserves through tourism and other non-exploitative activities.  According to the National Marine Protected Areas Center (1995-1996), the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and other marine-related parks and refuges provide an "estimated total tourist contribution to the economy of over 60 percent."  Considering the scale of tourism in areas such as the Florida Keys, this is a truly significant percentage.  Myriad activities such as scuba diving, wildlife watching, boating, surfing, and snorkeling are part of this large, lucrative, and growing industry. 

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MPAs are capable of great feats of research and education when used appropriately. With increased exposure to ocean information, mediated by MPAs, public knowledge of the world ocean problem can become commonplace.

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