economic benefits of estuaries
Economics of Estuaries. Estuaries, the transition zones where rivers meet the sea, provide the focal point around which coastal communities grow. The local bay or sound nurtures a high quality of life and maintains the health and traditions of our communities. An estuary is also a tremendous economic resource which provides jobs to coastal communities. The U.S. coasts generate more than 28 million jobs. These jobs come from commercial and recreational fishing, which alone employ 1.5 million people and contribute $111 billion to the nation's economy.