הערכה כלכלית של שוניות האלמוגים במפרץ אילת על רקע שינוי האקלים וסיכונים אזוריים

The coral reefs in the Gulf of Eilat provide a unique environmental, social, and economic contribution. Although they are among the most resilient reefs to climate change, they currently face growing threats, including rising sea temperatures, pollution, and external pressures from accelerated human activity. This study assesses the economic value of the reef to the Israeli public, considering both the benefits of direct use – such as recreation and tourism – and non-use values, including option, sustainability, and preservation values for future generations. We combined two widely accepted methods for estimating non-market economic values: the travel cost method, applied to a sample of visitors to the Coral Beach Nature Reserve in Eilat, and the contingent valuation method, implemented among both reserve visitors and a representative sample of the Israeli population. Our findings indicate that the total annual value of the coral reefs, expressed in 2024 prices, is estimated at NIS 326.8 million, with about 89% attributed to non-use values. The bequest value for future generations emerged as the main factor influencing the public’s willingness to pay for reef conservation. The estimated values are high when compared to the expected state revenues from a pending agreement to expand oil transport operations by the EAPC (Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company) in the Gulf of Eilat, as well as to published figures regarding the economic activity of a large shopping center located near the reef. While the study shows that the public places significant importance on the existence of the reefs, our estimates reflect only part of the full picture, as they do not include incomparable contributions to education and science, international tourism, or the reefs' unique services to the ecosystem itself.