Much of Tobago’s coastline is bordered by near shore, fringing reefs. Southwest Tobago is characterized by a lagoonal system enclosed by the Buccoo Reef. Shoreline segments protected by coral reefs were defined as those within 100 m of a fringing reef, or enclosed by a lagoon-forming reef. Using this definition, nearly 90 km (just under half) of Tobago’s coastline was classified as protected by a coral reef.