New Report Shows Loss of Coastal Wetlands in Eastern U.S.

While the nation as a whole gained freshwater wetlands from 1998 to
2004, a new report by NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
documents a continuing loss of coastal wetlands in the eastern United
States.

The new report, Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Coastal Watersheds
of the Eastern United States, shows a loss of 59,000 acres each year in
the coastal watersheds of the Great Lakes, Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of
Mexico from 1998 to 2004.

"This report shows the nation's need to expand the effort to conserve
and rebuild valuable coastal wetlands," said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA
assistant administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "Coastal wetlands
are nurseries for important commercial and recreational fish and are
vital to many threatened and endangered species. They also provide
natural protection to coastal communities from the most damaging effects
of hurricanes and storm surges."

One reason wetland loss is concentrated in coastal watersheds is that
with large numbers of people living here - more than half of the
nation's population lives in coastal counties in densities five times
greater than inland counties - the building of roads, homes and
businesses have accelerated wetlands loss, particularly along the Gulf
of Mexico. Wetland restoration is also more difficult in coastal areas
where land values are high and factors such as storms and large expanses
of soft muddy ground hamper restoration efforts.

The report contains a case study from Florida's St. Vincent Island that
illustrates the challenges of restoring coastal wetlands, but also shows
the enormous benefits including opening up areas for public recreation
as well as habitat for fish, turtles, shorebirds and other wildlife.

"We are concerned by the findings of this report because coastal
wetlands provide essential habitat for many migratory bird, fish, and
endangered species," said Rowan Gould, acting director of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. "The high rate of coastal wetlands losses is even
more alarming when we consider the anticipated stresses that climate
change will bring to our coasts in the future. We look forward to
working with federal and non-federal partners to stop this trend and
achieve no net loss of coastal wetlands."

NOAA and FWS are discussing with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and other interested groups how to best respond to the alarming
loss of coastal wetlands outlined in the new report. "Our coastal
wetlands are ecological treasures that help protect shorelines and
infrastructure in areas where more than half of Americans live," said
Michael Shapiro, acting assistant administrator for water at EPA. "This
report emphasizes the need for action to protect these valuable resources."

Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Coastal Watersheds of the Eastern
United States, 1998 to 2004 is available online at
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat. The next national five-year study on
wetlands will include the Pacific coast as well as the eastern United
States.