11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23.942
Challenges in Coral Reef Management: Lessons Learnt From Education And
Outreach Projects in The Mexican Caribbean
Sarah FRIAS-TORRES* 1 , Maria BELLO 2 , Rafael ARAUJO 3 , Hernando CARDENAS 4
1 RSMAS-UM and MRAG Americas, St. Petersburg, FL, 2 Southeast Fisheries Science
Center, NOAA-NMFS, Miami, FL, 3 Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS -University
of Miami, Miami, FL, 4 CIMAS, RSMAS -University of Miami, Miami, FL
The Mexican Caribbean (Mayan Riviera) has one of the fastest tourism growth rates in
the world. It contains part of the Meso-American Barrier Reef. Uncontrolled tourism
development threatens its coral reefs and associated habitats. We report the current
pressures, challenges, successes and failures in coral reef management as obtained
through two workshops organized before (Playa del Carmen, 2004) and after (Cancun,
2006) hurricane Wilma in the region. The workshops focused on conservation and
sustainable use of coral reefs and associated habitats (mangroves, seagrass), and targeted
managers, government officials, lawyers, tourism developers, architects, engineers,
teachers and students. Testimonials provided by workshop attendees allowed to groundtruth
reef management strategies on paper with reality, and how local communities
perceive the increase in tourism development versus the degradation of coral reefs and
associated habitats.
23.943
Applying Coral Reef Impact And Ecological Function Concerns Into Research
Activity Permits
Dave GULKO* 1
1 Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaii Dept of Land & Natural Resources, Honolulu,
HI
Many coral reef management jurisdictions issue permits to allow for take of aquatic life
for scientific, educational, or propagation purposes; and traditionally have evaluated
permitting requests based upon species-related concerns borne out of a history of
regulating fisheries in many cases. As resource trustee agencies start to focus more and
more on ecosystem-based approaches towards resource management, there is increasing
awareness of the need to apply such concerns into actions involving various user groups
individually, and as a whole. One group that often has very direct impacts to coral reefs
along a wide spectrum is the research community. While specific rules and laws vary
greatly amongst jurisdictions, the impact concerns that need to be considered relative to
various impact activities are relatively consistent but rarely applied to activities involving
research (outside of highly regulated MPAs). In Hawaii, we are adopting a checklistbased
approach towards permit review which incorporates ecosystem-based approaches
including ecological function concerns and both direct and indirect habitat impacts.
Issues related to bioprospecting, alien species, rare species and Species of Concern, and
user conflicts are also included. The checklist approach encourages more transparency,
fairness, and documentation of permitting review while providing directly for appropriate
Special Conditions relative to the type and impact of the research being proposed for the
type of coral reefs to be accessed. Such an approach allows for both synergistic and
cumulative impacts to be considered within a permit and across permits for a designated
area.
Poster Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23.944
The Ecological Effects Of Marine Preserves in A Grouper-Free And Diadema
Rebounding System in St. Croix, Usvi
Alex BURPEE* 1 , Robert HUMSTON 2 , Lisa GREER 1 , Dennis HUBBARD 3
1 Geology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, 2 Biology, Virginia Military Instiute,
Lexington, VA, 3 Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Previous research has demonstrated that protected reefs have higher densities of parrotfish,
predatory fishes, and live coral than unprotected reefs. This conclusion was drawn while
assuming grouper as the dominant predator and ignoring the impacts of Diadema antillarum
grazing. We collected data from a protected site and an unprotected site in St. Croix, an area
with an imperceptible grouper population and a rebounding Diadema population. This
biological setting in St. Croix allows us to test this theory in a different environment. Buck
Island has been a marine preserve since 1961, and it is located approximately 5 km north of St.
Croix. It is one of the oldest of its kind and it acts as a comparison reef against Tague Bay, an
unprotected reef located on the north coast of St. Croix. Several biological indicators were
monitored on both reefs to assess community composition including the densities of parrotfish,
Diadema, and predatory fishes. The fish data were collected by means of duplicate 10-minute
counts for two 10 m transects at each depth at depths of 7.5 m, 4.5 m, and 2 m. Measurements
were taken from 3 different sites on each of the two reefs providing assessments that are
identical in both methodology and area assessed. In a parallel study, algal cover, live coral
cover, and bioerosion rates were also quantified in order to characterize the ecological and
biological conditions that exist on the two reefs. Preliminary analyses have indicated that the
densities of parrotfish and predatory fishes are greater on the protected reef (2,286 vs. 1,507
parrotfish). Coral data are still being analyzed. Interestingly, Diadema densities on the
unprotected reef were significantly higher than on the protected reef (3,123 vs. 400). The
difference in Diadema densities could reflect a competitive interaction between grazers related
to reef management. The implications of this and other community dynamics on coral and
algae density will be discussed.
23.945
Strengthening Management Of U.s. Coral Reef Ecosystems
Takiora INGRAM* 1 , Evangeline LUJAN 2
1 All Islands Coral Reef Secretariat, Honolulu, HI, 2 Bureau of Statistics and Plans, Government
of Guam, Hagatna, Guam
Strengthening Management of U.S. Coral Reef Ecosystems
The U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee (AIC) 1 is a collaboration of Governor-appointed
marine resource managers from state, commonwealth, territorial agencies and freely associated
states (FAS), working together with federal agencies to conserve and protect coral reefs in the
United States. They are responsible for managing approximately 95 percent of U.S. coral reefs.
Objective: This paper analyses the progress made through Local Action Strategies (LAS) to
reduce threats from the adverse impacts of human activity on coral reef ecosystems
implemented by members of the AIC, in partnership with NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation
Program and the Department of the Interior (DOI).
Methods: Six main threats to coral reef ecosystems were prioritized by the AIC for
implementing LAS projects: land–based sources of pollution; over fishing; recreational overuse
and misuse; lack of public awareness; and climate change, coral bleaching, and disease.
Outcomes include: improvement in policies and management capacity; sharing of management
experiences amongst jurisdictions; engagement of local community stakeholders; leveraging
partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, academic institutions and the private sector;
establishing public outreach programs; and effective coral reef research.
Key challenges include: need to strengthen local management capacity; provide additional
resources for LAS projects; engage local communities and more federal agencies in LAS
projects; ensure coral reef management is community based and locally driven; and link
research priorities to management.
Conclusions
Leveraging partnerships and sharing experiences amongst jurisdictions are the main strengths of
the AIC. Increased resources are needed to enable local managers to address increased threats to
coral reef ecosystems.
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