Table 6: Value and quantity of seafood imports into the U.S. Virgin Islands (2006).
Country of Origin
Quantity
Quantity
Value
(lbs)
(kg)
($)
250,830
113,755
598,118
Dried Non-Specified Groundfish Cod
137,813
62,500
366,238
Smoked Salmon
4,035
1,830
26,018
Canned Sardines
29,379
13,324
60,331
Salted Groundfish, Cusk, Haddock Fillets
783
355
4,424
Non-Specified Tuna
3,166
1,436
6,185
Live Fresh Conch
44,188
20,040
11,700
Non-specified marine fish, Other products
6,425
2,914
27,059
476,619
216,154
1,100,073
Seafood Product Non-Specified Dried/Salted/Brine Fish Fillets
Norway
Canada
Netherlands/ St. Kitts-Nevis Other
Total
Source: NMFS, 2007c
3.4. The Condition of the Coral Reef Ecosystems 3.4.1. Status of U.S.V.I. Reefs Coral reefs are widespread around the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fringing reefs, deep water reefs (wall and shelf-edge), patch reefs, and spur and groove formations are present in all islands, but only St. Croix has barrier reefs (Turgeon et al., 2002; Jeffrey et al., 2005). St. Croix’s insular shelf has well-developed barrier reefs on the eastern end, which protect the eastern and southern shores. The Cruzan north shore has deep coral walls. Studies of the shallow benthic habitats of the U.S.V.I. (up to a depth of 30 meters) indicate that coral reef and hard bottom habitats cover 61% of these habitats with a total estimated area of 297.9 square kilometers. Major reef building corals include the genera Acropora, Montastraea, Porites, Diploria, Siderastrea, and Agaricia (DFW, 2005). In particular, star coral (Monastraea annularis), Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), and staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) have historically been the
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