Resources Overview
Coral reefs are widespread throughout the British Virgin Islands, including fringing reefs close to most islands, patch reefs in offshore areas, and a long barrier-type structure, Horseshoe Reef, extending to the southeast of Anegada. As with the US Virgin Islands, the reefs have been severely impacted by the passage of several hurricanes in recent years and, although not all areas were equally affected, some sites lost up to 100 percent of their live coral cover. There are now reports of a partial recovery in most places. The reefs have also suffered from coral disease and from the 1998 bleaching event. Although less well studied, it can generally be assumed that many of these impacts have had consequences similar to those in the nearby US Virgin Islands.

Human impacts vary across the islands, but significant deterioration or loss of reef habitats has been noted close to the more heavily populated areas. Coastal development has been particularly severe on Tortola and Virgin Gorda, with the clearance of almost all mangroves. Considerable increases in coastal sedimentation have resulted from road building and other construction projects. Large amounts of sewage pass into the sea untreated, although newer developments tend to include sewage treatment facilities. These islands have the greatest concentration of charter yachts in the world and anchor damage is widespread, particularly in the more popular anchorages where wide areas of benthic communities have been destroyed. There is some eutrophication in the more enclosed bays which is at least in part related to these vessels. Although several hundred moorings are available these are clearly insufficient for the numbers of boats. There are only relatively few commercial fishers (less than 200), with a total catch of some 800 tons in 1998. Despite this, the impacts of commercial and recreational fishing remain substantial, notably on lobster, conch, groupers and snappers.

Although a number of marine protected areas have been declared, active management is limited. The pressures of tourist numbers in existing sites, together with the impacts of legitimate activities within their boundaries, including fishing, further reduce the effectiveness of many of these sites.