The economics of live rock and live coral aquaculture

Aquaculture is increasingly cited as a priority solution for reducing the harvest pressures on coral reefs associated with the marine ornamentals trade, especially in the developing Indo-Pacific. Two of the most important marine ornamental invertebrates traded internationally are live rock and live coral. The purpose of this chapter is to present results of a bioeconomic analysis of the aquaculture of live rock and live coral, based on a review of experimental and commercial production of live rock and live coral under way in Florida, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and the Philippines. Analysis of the costs and returns of culture at different scales of production, cash flow, and price sensitivity is provided. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the benefits and constraints of culturing live rock and live coral in the United States and Indo-Pacific.