The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States : 2002

By National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Book Id: WPLBN0000695132
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 5.51 MB.
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States : 2002
Author:	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Science., Ecology & environment, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (U.S.)
Collections:	National Oceanographic Data Center
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Government Reference Publication


Citation APA MLA Chicago And Atmospheric Administration, N. O. (n.d.). The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States : 2002. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.us/

Excerpt
Excerpt: Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000--The Coral Reef Conservation Act (Public Law 106-562, U.S.C. 6401 et seq., December 2000) authorizes $16 million annually from 2000-2004 to the Secretary of Commerce to help preserve, sustain, and restore the condition of coral reef ecosystems. The Act authorizes 1) the establishment a new Coral Reef Conservation Program to providing matching grants for projects that conserve coral reefs, and 2) funding for a National Program to conduct a variety of coral reef activities such as mapping, assessment, monitoring, research, restoration, public outreach, and removing abandoned fishing gear, marine debris, and grounded vessels. The Act also requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a National Coral Reef Action Strategy, and authorizes establishing a Coral Reef Conservation Fund to build public-private partnerships for coral reef conservation.

Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 1 NATIONAL SUMMARY Background .............................................................................................................................. 17 Coral Reefs ............................................................................................................................. 18 Reef Ecosystems ..................................................................................................................... 19 Corals and Reef Communities ................................................................................................ 19 Global Concerns ..................................................................................................................... 23 Environmental Pressures ........................................................................................................ 27 Global Climate Change and Coral Bleaching......................................................................... 28 Diseases ................................................................................................................................. 30 Tropical Storms ...................................................................................................................... 31 Coastal Development and Runoff........................................................................................... 32 Coastal Pollution .................................................................................................................... 33 Tourism and Recreation .......................................................................................................... 35 Fishing ................................................................................................................................... 36 Harvest and Trade in Corals and Live Reef Species .............................................................. 37 Boats, Ships, and Groundings ................................................................................................ 38 Marine Debris ......................................................................................................................... 39 Alien Species .......................................................................................................................... 40 Other Physical Impacts to Coral Reefs ................................................................................... 40 Offshore Oil and Gas .............................................................................................................. 40 National Assessment ................................................................................................................ 43 Gaps in Habitat Mapping........................................................................................................ 43 Gaps in Ecosystem Monitoring .............................................................................................. 44 Status of Coral Reef Ecosystems ............................................................................................ 45 Florida ................................................................................................................................. 45 Puerto Rico .......................................................................................................................... 48 The U.S. Virgin Islands ....................................................................................................... 49 The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary....................................................... 51 Navassa Island ..................................................................................................................... 52 The Hawaiian Archipelago .................................................................................................. 53 American Samoa.................................................................................................................. 56 Guam .................................................................................................................................. 57 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ............................................................... 58 Pacific Freely Associated States .......................................................................................... 61 Republic of the Marshall Islands ......................................................................................... 61 Federated States of Micronesia............................................................................................ 61 The Republic of Palau ......................................................................................................... 62 National Trends in Coral Reef Ecosystems ............................................................................ 62