Indirect use values are the functional services that the environmental asset supports and in which benefits are derived from. These include biological support and coast protection.

Coral Ecosystem

Reefs are important ecological systems as they provide biological support for fishes and nearby habitats. They act as shelters and breeding areas for fishes dependent on reefs, and also provide a source of nutrients for fisheries. They are the very ecosystems in which more than 1 million species of fish call home.

Rees also play a valuable and important role in acting as buffers against impacts of wave action and storms for the coast. Globally, it is estimated that more than 150,000km of shoreline in 106 countries receive some form of protection from reefs. The global value of coastal protection by reefs is at $9.0 billion. Within Southeast Asia, the potential sustainable annual economic net benefit for Indonesia, in term of coastal protection is valued at US$314 million.

If you think about it, all the uses the coral reefs providing for us are absolutely free. We do not need to pay them for protecting our coasts, filtering nutrients, supporting the biosystem in which we rely on for fishing. If we are to damage the coral reefs beyond repair, the amount needed to protect our coastlines, will be massive. An example is already present in the real world. An artificial substitute barrier in Maldives cost 12 million dollars. This highlights the importance for conservation of reefs-without it, our losses are monumental.