An ounce of prevention: cost‐effectiveness of coral reef rehabilitation relative to enforcement

Investing in enforcement of blast fishing bans is far more cost-effective than coral reef rehabilitation for protecting biodiversity and fisheries benefits in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. A study comparing the economic viability of reef rehabilitation—installing locally quarried rocks on blasted rubble fields at a cost of approximately US$4.80 per square meter—with marine patrol enforcement found that patrols are up to 70 times more economical over seven years. While rehabilitation alone is unlikely to succeed without concurrent enforcement, the research highlights that prioritizing compliance with regulations ensures sustained ecological and economic benefits for UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Komodo National Park.

Haisfield, K. M., Fox, H. E., Yen, S., Mangubhai, S., & Mous, P. J. (2010). An ounce of prevention: cost‐effectiveness of coral reef rehabilitation relative to enforcement. Conservation Letters, 3(4), 243–250. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-263x.2010.00104.x