Navigating the Ecological Decline of Coral Reef Ecosystems and its Impact on Dive Tourism in the East African Marine Ecoregion

The continued degradation of coral reefs in the East African Marine Ecoregion (EAME) has been on the increase, negatively impacting on dive operators and the dive tourism industry. The EAME includes the coastlines of South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya, which are frequented by dive tourists who explore its coral reefs. Through surveys, this research aimed to determine the scale of coral reef degradation in the EAME due to direct environmental risks from the perspective of dive operators in the region–both overall and then per country. Results indicate the prominent direct environmental risks to be overfishing, marine pollution, and destructive fishing, followed by tourism overuse on the coast and negative impacts caused by divers. The greatest regional impact of these risks is on Tanzania, followed by Mozambique, Kenya, and then South Africa, but the extent thereof differs from country to country. Since dive operators are in regular direct contact with coral reefs, their perceptions are important measures of the actual state of coral reefs. Understanding the risks that they identify is crucial due to the correlation between the healthy state of coral reefs and their attractiveness to scuba divers seeking pristine marine environments. While some risks are harder to mitigate, as stakeholders navigate declining coral reef ecosystems, the research points to the importance of marine protected areas, buffer zones, and no-take zones and the strict governance thereof. Multistakeholder engagement is also crucial in securing the sustainability of the dive tourism industry. Educating marine tourism operators, tourists, coastal communities, and the public is a further requirement if marine resources are to be enjoyed and utilized sustainably.