5 Reasons to Love Estuaries

NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation protects and restores habitat to sustain our nation's fisheries, recover endangered species, and support coastal communities. Estuaries -where salty seawater mixes with fresh water draining from the land-are one of many coastal habitats in which we work. Estuaries provide homes for fish and wildlife and support recreation, jobs, tourism, shipping, and more.

1. Estuaries Are Nurseries of the Sea

Estuaries are often called the "nurseries of the sea," because so many animals rely on these areas to reproduce and spend the early part of their lives. Most of the fish and shellfish we eat-including salmon, herring, crabs, and oysters-spend some or all of their life in estuaries. Estuaries provide habitat for nearly 70 percent of the United States' commercial fish catch and 80 percent of recreational catch. On the West Coast, they also serve as nurseries for threatened and endangered juvenile salmon and steelhead making their transition from freshwater to the ocean.

Bays, harbors, sounds, and other estuaries include habitats like marshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, and oyster reefs . Each of these habitats are populated with creatures that thrive in that setting. With so much variation, it's no wonder that estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth.

2. Estuaries Are Homes For People, Too

With the amount of benefits they provide, it's no surprise that people love estuaries. Twenty-two of the 32 largest cities in the world are located on estuaries. Nearly 40 percent of Americans live on or near one. Major estuaries in the United States include the Chesapeake Bay , Puget Sound, and Tampa Bay.

Along with that popularity comes challenges. Human activities on land can harm estuary health, degrading living conditions for species that live in or visit them. Development pressures, pollution in runoff water, and other threats diminish the ecological and economic values of our estuaries. NOAA works to restore degraded estuary habitats and rebuild the benefits they provide to fish, wildlife, and people.

3. Estuaries Support the Economy

Coastal economies rely on estuaries for jobs and industries such as shipping and commercial fishing. According to an analysis by Restore America's Estuaries , estuaries in the United States are home to 39 percent of jobs and support 47 percent of economic output.

One example is tourism and recreation. Tourists and residents alike visit estuaries to hunt and fish, watch birds, take photographs, hike, canoe and kayak, and observe wildlife. Tourism and recreation in coastal areas like estuaries contribute approximately $143 billion to the national economy each year. Ocean-based tourism and recreation industries employ nearly 2.5 million people.

4. Estuaries Provide Flood Protection

Estuaries play an important role in protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure from damage caused by flooding and storm surge. Habitats like salt marshes and seagrass beds serve as natural infrastructure . They protect communities from flooding and erosion by soaking up water and dissipating storm energy.

In Oregon, a NOAA-supported effort in Tillamook Bay restored habitat for salmon while reducing flooding in the surrounding communities and farmlands. Prior to restoration, the area was prone to frequent seasonal flooding, often with catastrophic impacts to landowners. With more than 440 acres of estuary habitat now restored, the area allows flood waters to move freely and quickly away from the town of Tillamook. Nearby properties and more than 500 structures are protected from flooding.

5. Estuaries Help Clean Our Water

As water runs off the land, it can carry sediment, nutrients, and other pollution. Estuary habitats such as salt marshes and seagrass beds act as natural filters, trapping pollutants as water flows through them. This provides cleaner water for humans and marine life.

Some species that live in estuaries can also improve water quality. Oysters are filter feeders that trap and remove pollution from the water. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. NOAA works to restore oyster reefs in estuaries across the country, including in the Chesapeake Bay . More restored reefs means more oysters, and that means more filter feeding-which can result in clearer water near those reefs .

Partnering to Conserve Estuaries

NOAA relies on strong partnerships in our work to protect and restore estuaries. We collaborate with tribes, local and state governments, other federal agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations to support estuary habitats and the benefits they provide.

We provide financial and technical assistance to our partners, who provide additional funding and on-the-ground support. Together, our efforts help sustain the fisheries, endangered species, and communities that call estuaries home.