Background:
Coral reefs are threatened by a growing
number of natural and anthropogenic stresses. These threats range
from very localized and potentially manageable events to poorly
understood global phenomena affecting entire ocean basins. Our
success in mitigating threats and conserving coral reef ecosystems
will depend on how well we can develop and apply proactive, precautionary
management measures. This requires a better understanding of the
ecology of coral reef ecosystems and response to environmental
stressors, more coordinated efforts to document the status and
trends of coral reefs and causes of reef decline, and increased
research efforts to provide data needed to support the development
of new management measures and to validate the effectiveness of
these measures.
In recent years, significant progress has been achieved towards protecting coral reefs and promoting sustainable use of reef resources. For example, the installation of moorings and navigational buoys is helping reduce damage associated with anchoring and vessel grounding, and the establishment of no-take marine protected areas offer further protection by reducing fishing pressure and other extractive activities. While management measures of this type are successful at reducing the potential for physical damage from human activities, addressing water quality has been more difficult, and land-based sources of pollutants and sediment remain a significant threat in particular to benthic organisms such as corals.
The
U.S. Endangered Species Act is one of the most powerful environmental
laws that offers substantial additional protective measures for
coral reef species that could complement existing management measures.
A threatened or endangered ESA listing would require the development
and implementation of a recovery plan that would reduce the likelihood
of extinction by alleviating threats affecting these species and
promoting strategies to increase population size. An ESA listing
would ensure that additional resources are allocated towards research
and monitoring. It can also assist in the implementation of strategies
to reduce habitat degradation and avoid impacts from future activities,
including coastal modifications that may affect water quality.
By protecting declining coral species through the ESA, unique
species assemblages dependent on reefs will also benefit. The
ESA is described in more detail on the
NMFS Protected Resources web page.
In July, 1999 two Caribbean corals, Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis were listed as candidates for the ESA. While this listing does not provide any legal protection, these corals were added primarily to highlight NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) concerns that these species have declined substantially and are in need of voluntary conservation efforts, and also to obtain more information on their status.
Elkhorn and staghorn corals are the two major reef-building corals in Florida and throughout the Caribbean that once formed dense thickets at shallow and intermediate depths, contributing significantly to reef growth, island formation, coastal protection, fisheries habitat and coral reef biodiversity. These species have declined in abundance throughout most of their range by 80-98% of their 1970s baseline, converting three-dimensional, high-relief habitat into flat "parking lot" stretches of seascape. Both species still occupy their historic range, although localized range reductions and extirpations have occurred.
Disease outbreaks
are the major cause of coral loss, with cumulative impacts from
habitat loss, storm damage, coral bleaching, outbreaks of predators,
degraded water quality, physical damage from anchoring and ship
groundings and other human impacts.
Recent information is available on the status and trends of populations from 60-75% of all reefs where they once occurred. However, research is needed on reproductive biology; genetic studies to determine linkages among populations and degree of genetic exchange among populations; demographic parameters and habitat-based variables, including methods to predict risk; causes of diseases and techniques to mitigate disease; and an evaluation of strategies to enhance recovery.
Through
the Candidate Listing, NMFS has supported work by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) to
document the current condition of these species in the Florida
Keys, the degree of threats affecting surviving populations, and
their potential for recovery. In addition, NMFS has provided support
to non-government organizations such as Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) to obtain monitoring
information recorded throughout their range. At a NMFS Protected Resources led
workshop (April, 2001), participants compiled recent information
on the status and trends, threats, role of biological and ecological
parameters in recovery, adequacy of existing management measures
and new measures that are needed for conservation, and information
needs. This information is being included in a status review conducted
by NMFS in coordination with other federal and state agencies
and coral reef experts. The status review is slated for completion
in FY04 and will be used to make a listing decision regarding
these Acropora species.
Proceedings of the Acropora Workshop
NOAA Fisheries and the National Center for Caribbean Coral Reef Research (NCORE) invited 65 coral reef biologists, geologists and resource managers from the U.S. and wider Caribbean to the Caribbean Acropora Workshop (April 16-18, 2002) at University of Miami’s Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science to obtain recent information on the two candidate corals. The participants compiled information on the status and trends of these corals, including data on:
- the distribution, abundance and condition of these corals in the Caribbean, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands;
- the threats affecting these species;
- the role of life history traits and genetic diversity of populations as factors contributing to their vulnerability, future trends and potential restoration of the species;
- critical habitat and biological, physical and ecological requirements;
- the effectiveness of existing local, state, territorial and regional management and conservation initiatives;
- gaps in our understanding; and
- additional measures that are needed to mitigate threats, conserve these species and rebuild degraded populations.
The Workshop Proceedings represents the most up to date compilation of available information on Caribbean acroporids, with emphasis on information needed to evaluate their conservation status and needs. It will serve as a critical component of a status review that will help NMFS determine whether these species qualify for and would benefit from listing on the Endangered Species Act.
- Abstracts from each of the presentations
- Three white papers that summarize the status and trends of Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Working group reports on the status and trends; biology and ecology; management; and information needs and questions posed to each of the groups to help focus their deliberations
- Summary of biological information used to list these species as Candidates for the ESA;
- A compilation of references on Caribbean acroporids; and
- An Executive summary that highlights the major outcomes and conclusions from the workshop, including the resolutions of each working group.
- Full proceedings and figures
Return to the NMFS coral reef fisheries management page.
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