Trade-offs in fishery yield between wetland conservation and land conversion on the Gulf of Mexico

- Estuarine and freshwater wetlands in the tropics maintain highly valued fisheries.
- The economic value of coastal wetlands is based on commercial fishing.
- Lagoon fishing productivity is directly correlated with wetland cover.
- Land use intensity is inversely correlated with lagoon fishing productivity.
- Land use policy that weighs economic trade-offs favors conserving coastal wetlands.