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NOAA Southeast and Regional Team [email protected] NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean

Volume 2 | Issue 3 February | 2014 Protection Beyond Borders for the Humpback Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary’s Sister Sanctuary Program Expands Protection in the Caribbean With the creation of several new protected the migratory corridor between SBNMS critical habitats for humpbacks, and sites in the Caribbean, NOAA’s Stellwagen in the and the Caribbean. the Dutch government has resolved to Bank National Marine Sanctuary’s pursue similar relationships with both the (SBNMS) Sister Sanctuary Program (SSP) The SSP emphasizes the critical need to U.S. and France as neighboring countries now provides greater protection for take a broader management view toward in the region,” Paul Hoetjes, nature Atlantic populations. trans-boundary conservation of marine policy coordinator for the Caribbean species. The program provides Netherlands and Dutch, said. In December 2006, SBNMS established critical support for a shared population the world’s first Sister Sanctuary linkage of almost 1,000 humpback , which For more information on the Sister protecting an endangered migratory spend the spring and summer in the Sanctuary Program, visit: http:// marine mammal species on both ends rich feeding grounds of SBNMS before stellwagen.noaa.gov/sister/welcome. of its range, between SBNMS and the heading south to the Caribbean in html. Dominican Republic’s Marine Mammal the late fall to mate and give birth to their Nathalie Ward Sanctuary. In 2011, the SSP expanded its young. Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary reach to include a sister sanctuary with [email protected] the Agoa Marine Mammal Sanctuary “The Sister Sanctuary Program promotes in the French Antilles. In 2012, the a strategy that helps define emerging Government of Bermuda joined the SSP problems beyond exclusive economic to help protect humpback whales along zones (EEZs), kindles commitment to critical habitats and manifests the true spirit of regional cooperation, which IN THIS ISSUE is a key element to ensure effective management for biodiversity protection 1 Protection Beyond Borders for and the conservation of migratory, the Humpback Whale marine mammal species,” Alessandra 2 Second NOAA in the Caribbean Vanzella-Khouri, a programme officer Annual Conference Goes Virtual with the United Nations Environment 2 Rising to Support Programme-Specially Protected Areas Sustainable Coastal Development and Wildlife (UNEP-SPAW) program, said. in Belize Talks between SBNMS and the Dutch 3 News from Around the Caribbean West Indies are currently underway 6 Data Zone to designate the of the EEZ Access to latest NOAA data portals around the islands of Saba and St. 7 Profiles in Partnership Eustatius as a legal sanctuary for marine 8 Study Finds High Levels of some time this year. The Dutch Pollutants in Guánica Bay government also has plans for additional 8 Tropical Storms Stir Up Bad SBNMS Sister Sanctuary partnerships. Chemistry for Corals 9 Upcoming Events & “The sister sanctuary program between Announcements the Dominican Republic and SBNMS 9 Share Your Photos & Artwork A 40-ton humpback whale breaching. was a shining example of effective Credit: Whale and Conservation cooperation by linking the efforts in

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 1 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean Second NOAA in the Caribbean Annual Conference Goes Virtual Meeting connects participants to guide NOAA’s priorities in the region This year, NOAA in the Caribbean Discussions were centered around The MeetingSphere virtual conference experimented with online conferencing three primary goals: (1) Improved venue remained open for continued to bring over 80 participants together conservation and management of ocean discussion for several weeks after the from across the U.S. mainland and and coastal and resources; conference. Post-meeting, goal-oriented U.S. Caribbean to help guide strategic (2) Strengthened understanding of, and sessions also took place for detailed priorities for future NOAA activities in adaptation to, a changing climate; and discussions on strategies for the region. The discussions centered (3) Enhanced multi- monitoring, implementation of the three primary around NOAA’s new Caribbean Strategy forecasting and . goals. document which outlines a collaborative approach for addressing priority Four of the meeting hubs were located “While there is no substitute for face environmental issues and societal in the U.S. Caribbean and six hubs were to face meetings among partners, the challenges in the region. located across the mainland U.S. at virtual meeting and post-meeting various NOAA offices. After discussion facilitated activities were an effective On January 15, 2014, meeting rooms on each of the primary goals, objectives way to maximize limited resources and at 10 physical locations, or hubs, were were prioritized and facilitators at each conduct the meeting efficiently with connected via the web and participants location shared the results with all minimal environmental impact,” Alan were asked to discuss and prioritize participants. Questions and comments Leonardi, chair of NOAA Caribbean, said. short, medium and long-term goals and from individuals were addressed via a objectives related to NOAA’s activities in moderated chat facility. For more information about NOAA’s new Caribbean strategy, visit: http://www. the Caribbean region. The overall aim was “In terms of how it worked, I think we regions.noaa.gov/secar/?page_id=276  to enhance coordination and application benefited from having a smaller group of NOAA capabilities, facilitate increased of individuals” Marlon Hibbert, facilitator Simon Pittman partnering in the region, and, where for the St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) National Ocean Service & NOAA in the possible, to attract new resources to hub and management liaison for Caribbean Steering Committee address priority needs. NOAA’s Coral Conservation [email protected] Program, said. TIDE Rising to Support Sustainable Development in Belize Fishers’ knowledge exchange and sustainable ecotourism ventures The Toledo Institute for Development TIDE promotes community participation The program is already showing signs of and Environment (TIDE) in southern in developing ridge to reef success, leading to a fisher-knowledge Belize is taking innovative steps to for sustainable resource use across the exchange program in August 2013 engage the fishing community and grow region known as the Maya Mountain where five Honduran fishers, as well their network of volunteers Marine Corridor. The institute supports as representatives from the Honduran to promote the sustainable use and dedicated rangers, scientists, educators Division, visited Belize’s management of the area’s marine and community stewards to co-manage Marine Reserve to learn resources from ridge to reef. a large (100,000 acre) marine protected more about the MPA and local Fishers area (MPA) called the Port Honduras Association. Marine Reserve. To further support sustainable MPAs In response to local concerns over fishing in Central America, NOAA’s , the Fisheries Department Conservation Fund and the National in partnership with TIDE and the and Wildlife Foundation awarded TIDE Environmental Defense Fund introduced a grant to develop a paying volunteer Managed Access, a fisheries management scientific ecotourism program as a long­ tool involving fishers who have a history term financing mechanism for the Port of conducting commercial fishing in the Honduras Marine Reserve. marine reserve. Participants in the Utila fisher visit to TIDE Belize Photo: A. Quiñonez

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 2 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean TIDE Rising to Support Sustainable Coastal Development in Belize (continued from page 2) Sustainable financing was identified as Titled the “Ridge to Reef Expeditions” TIDE and the Bay Islands Conservation a priority need in the Caribbean Marine program, volunteers will stay in the Association (Utila) in Honduras are Protected Areas Network management local community and assist the Port among the 10 MPA partners that capacity assessment for this location. Honduras Marine Reserve with biodiversity are participating in NOAA’s FY12-13 monitoring, applying best practices in line Cooperative Agreement with the Gulf with NOAA science for monitoring status and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). and trends in marine mammals, sea turtles, coral reefs and invasive lionfish. TIDE is now For more information on TIDE, visit: http:// developing science and business plans and www.tidebelize.org/.  acquiring equipment for the program, Emma Doyle which is set to begin this year. Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute [email protected] This type of support for local capacity building for sustainable marine resource use addresses goals and objectives of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and NOAA’s new Caribbean Strategy. The new logo for TIDE’s pay-to-participate monitoring program. News from Around the Caribbean Connecting you with news and updates from NOAA and partners around the U.S. and international Caribbean

interactive space for U.S. Virgin Islands, Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The VIMPAN U.S. Caribbean News British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico vision is to cooperatively conserve and restore resources across a shared system NOAA in the Caribbean now has a web relevant news, resources and data. of MPAs. The group of MPA managers and presence! Register online to contribute regionally partners are working to develop a more The NOAA Carib web page is now pertinent news and receive updates on coordinated collaboration, with greater available. The site provides Caribbean topics that interest you. Check out the communication flow among MPAs to partners and stakeholders with forum where this online community address common challenges and build background information on NOAA Carib, can discuss regional topics or view the community support. If you are planning as well as access to products and related calendar for regionally-relevant events projects or research efforts in the territory, resources. There is also a news section with and opportunities. Join us at Reefconnect. please use VIMPAN as a MPA resource in a calendar for timely information about org and look for us on Facebook at your scoping and planning. Check out NOAA’s engagement in the Caribbean Reefconnect!  the website at vimpan.reefconnect.org!  region, so please send news items to the The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy NOAA Carib chair (Alan.Leonardi@noaa. [email protected] [email protected] gov) or vice chair (Lisamarie.Carrubba@ noaa.gov) for posting. The NOAA Virgin Islands Questions Carib web page can be found on the Network Southeast and Caribbean Regional Team The Virgin Islands Marine Protected Area or Comments? website http://www.regions.noaa.gov/ Network (VIMPAN) now has a web site that We want to hear from you! Please secar/?page_id=276.  provides information on the mission of e-mail us to subscribe/unsubscribe National Ocean Service the network, details on the Coordination to the newsletter or to submit any [email protected] Framework and profiles for each of the questions, comments and story member MPAs. VIMPAN was established ideas at: [email protected]. Launch of reefconnect.org! in 2012 with support from a grant to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), NOAA TNC from the Marine Protected Areas Editorial Note: blue underlined text indi­ and other partners have launched Fund, a partnership between NOAA, the cates a live hyperlink. When viewing pages Reefconnect.org! This site provides an Department of the Interior and National in an Adobe PDF, click to open relevant web pages.

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 3 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean News from Around the Caribbean Connecting you with news and updates from NOAA and partners around the U.S. and international Caribbean U.S. Caribbean News years of monitoring data. They found Coral Reef Conservation Program. Visit (continued from page 3) that some species (referred to as Type III http://maps.coastalscience.noaa.gov/ corals), including common brain coral, biomapper/biomapper.html?id=STEER to National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan lesser starlet and mustard hill corals, view the maps.  (NCRMP) to survey Puerto Rican reefs survived through the 2005 and 2010 National Ocean Service After successfully implementing high thermal events with little [email protected] monitoring protocols in the USVI in impact on their populations. In contrast, 2013, NCRMP will set sights on Puerto branching corals and foliose corals had Rico in 2014. Fish communities and the high levels of mortality during bleaching Ridge-to-reef study identifies problem seafloor composition of coral reefs will in 2005. Star corals had low bleaching, watersheds on St. Croix be surveyed by teams of NOAA scientific but high levels of mortality from white NCCOS researchers, in divers and staff from the Coral Reef disease after bleaching had subsided. The collaboration with managers from Conservation Program and partner study suggests that Caribbean species the St. Croix East End Marine agencies at approximately 500 composition on reefs will change as the Park, The Nature Conservancy and locations around Puerto Rico. The data result of . The published the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation collected will be analyzed to provide research can be found at http://dx.doi. Program, have completed a report marine managers, and the wider org/10.1890/ES13-00107.1. Work was that characterized the MPAs community, with a broad assessment of supported by U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial marine environment and watershed coral reef status and trends. Survey Coral Reef Monitoring Program and condition. The project identified areas missions will take place every two the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation where land-based threats, like pollution years and will be complemented by Program. and runoff, may impact coral reef socioeconomic surveys to better University of the Virgin Islands ecosystems in the park. Maps understand how people use and value [email protected] identifying high, medium and low the resources. NCRMP’s goal is to develop impact watersheds were provided to a nationally standardized assessment of Seafloor mapping to support local coral managers to support prioritizing of coral reef communities, as well as support reef conservation efforts management actions to tackle immediate existing monitoring in the region. New marine benthic habitat maps threats to vulnerable National Ocean Service have been developed by NCCOS and species. The results are now [email protected] and spatial ecologists to provide essential available in a newly released document [email protected] information on priority sites on St. John called Land-Sea Characterization of the and St. Thomas. The maps, which show St. Croix East End Marine Park. Visit the location of coral reefs, http://coastalscience. noaa.gov/ to and , are needed to help download the report.  assess threats and support prioritization National Ocean Service of management actions particularly for [email protected] Local Action Strategies. The maps provide highly detailed and accurate information for the seafloor down to 40 m depth at A diver conducting surveys in Puerto Rico. 30th U.S. Coral Reef Task , St. Croix Credit: National Centers for Coastal Ocean Fish Bay and Coral Bay on St. John and for Another successful Coral Reef Task Science (NCCOS) the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER) Force meeting, co-chaired by NOAA and on St. Thomas. Habitats were mapped by Department of the Interior staff, was NOAA funded monitoring data helps analyzing aerial photographs collected hosted by the University of the identify resilient Caribbean coral by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and Virgin Islands in November 2013. species seafloor bathymetry collected by an Representatives from eight federal A recent study using underwater airborne laser system flown by NOAA’s agencies, two states, five territories monitoring data from the NOAA funded Office of Survey. To provide even and one freely associated state met Virgin Islands’ Territorial Coral Reef more information NCCOS scientists have for strategic discussions on coral reef Monitoring Program has identified added hundreds of underwater photos conservation, ocean planning, public three groups of coral species that show and some videos of the marine habitats outreach activities, and to share different levels of resilience to seawater to an online mapping tool. This habitat experiences with local reef and warming. The researchers analyzed seven mapping effort was funded by NOAA’s watershed restoration projects.

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 4 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean U.S. Caribbean News tail flukes, the fingerprints for whale The training was attended by 14 identification, to help scientists monitor participants, including staff and interns (continued from page 4) the movements, behavior and recovery of the Department of Environment A business meeting also took place to of this endangered species. Sailors will and Maritime Affairs, representatives highlight the local economic and help build the database for this shared of collaborating NGOs and local cultural importance of coral reefs population of approximately 1,000 volunteers, plus a representative from through panel discussions on animals by uploading photos of whale the British Virgin Islands National Parks , watershed protection and tails and locations. This international Trust. An extended SocMon model was climate change impacts on coral reefs.  research project is a collaboration successfully tested over the course of the between NOAA and the UNEP-SPAW. It nine-day meeting. The local MPA Princess National Ocean Service aims to share data and collaborate with Alexandra Land Sea Park provided a [email protected] other humpback whale initiatives in the case study during training and baseline region. Visit http://www.caribtails.org for SocMon data is now being collected for New commercial swordfish permit more information.  three MPAs. The training was provided available National Ocean Service by Centre for Resource Management A new open-access Swordfish General [email protected] and Environmental Studies, with support Commercial permit is available. It allows from NOAA Coral Reef Conservation two swordfish per trip to be sold in Program through GCFI. Visit http://youtu. the U.S. Caribbean. Authorized gear be/2msbem52RJI to learn more about includes: rod and reel, handline, , SocMon. green-stick and bandit gear. The Highly Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/ [email protected] Headboat permit has also been modified to allow commercial swordfishing when not on a for-hire trip. The new permit cannot be held with an HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit, but can CARIB Tails logo. be held with an Atlantic general category permit. These permits are Sister Sanctuary meeting at 2013 GCFI available at https://hmspermits.noaa.gov, conference or at 888-872-8862. The HMS Commercial Representatives from NOAA, the National Park Service and the Mexican government SocMon training in progress in the Turks & Caribbean Small Boat permit is available Caicos Islands. Credit: GCFI at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov, or at 877­ discussed ecological connectivity in 376-4877. the Gulf of Mexico and shared interests MPA monitoring at Soufrière Marine National Marine Fisheries Service in MPA management during a special Managed Area in St. Lucia [email protected] meeting at the 2013 GCFI conference The Soufrière Marine Management in Corpus Christi, Texas. This meeting Association, Inc. is collaborating with the built on efforts for the development of Australian Marine Park a network of Sister Sanctuaries between Authority to look at the status of the reefs MPAs in the U.S. and Mexico. It proved along Saint Lucia’s west coast. The group International an excellent opportunity for marine will also develop the requisite frameworks managers to meet face-to-face, some of and protocols for comprehensive Caribbean News them for the first time. Beyond discussing decision making regarding the condition Whale Ahoy! Yachters to assist with high priority topics, such as enforcement and resilience of coral reefs in the humpback whale research and coral reef monitoring, an unexpected Caribbean. NOAA participated in a recent In January 2014, CARIB Tails, a Caribbean outcome was sharing of knowledge workshop in 2013 that brought together citizen science project for yachters and about marine archaeology.  experts from the Caribbean and cruisers, was launched by the NOAA Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute to develop a protocol that would allow Stellwagen Bank National Marine [email protected] for greater understanding of conditions Sanctuary to enlist boaters to help and trends to inform effective decision- track the movement of humpback SocMon in Turks & Caicos Islands making, especially in the context of whales between their North Atlantic The Global Socioeconomic Monitoring adaptive management and climate feeding grounds and their breeding and Initiative for Coastal Management change adaptation. calving grounds in the wider Caribbean. (SocMon) held a training in the Turks Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Volunteers will take photos of the and Caicos Islands in August 2013. [email protected]

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910 , USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 5 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean Data Zone Here we connect you with NOAA data portals and datasets for the Caribbean that are easily accessible via the internet

The Environmental Response CariCOOS Model Assessment Tool Climate change risk prediction tool on Management Application CariCOOS—the United States Caribbean Google Earth The Environmental Response Coastal Ocean Observing System— NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch has developed Management Application®, or ERMA, is a together with CaRA (Caribbean Regional a series of maps, available to view on web-based map tool designed by NOAA’s Association), funded by NOAA, have Google Earth, that forecast areas of the Office of Response and Restoration produced an animated tool to help Caribbean (and globally) that will be at and the U.S. Environmental Protection visually compare model predictions from risk from increased ocean acidification, Agency to assist emergency responders models of ocean circulation, sea surface decreased calcification rates and coral in the event of a chemical spill. The and velocity. The bleaching over the next 100 years. The Caribbean ERMA integrates various real- tool has a point-and-click interface to projections which show that by 2055, 90% time and static datasets into a single allow users to select model animations of all reef locations will experience severe interactive map to make essential data and view them side-by-side so that annual bleaching events, come from a rapidly available to responders and you can compare, for example, the U.S. study led by the Cooperative Institute environmental managers coordinated Navy AMSEAS model for surface velocity for Marine and Atmospheric Science by the multi-agency Caribbean Regional field to the observed geostrophic field. in Miami, Florida in collaboration with Response Team. Data includes sensitive For more information contact Jorge NOAA scientists. The new Google Earth areas, oceanographic conditions (six to Capella at the University of Puerto Rico. tool shares updated projections based on 72 hour forecasts), earthquakes, tsunami an ensemble of climate models from the travel times, staging areas and command The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate posts, equipment storage locations, Change’s Fifth Assessment Report. The critical infrastructure (schools, hospitals, user can select from a range of climate roads, airports) and much more… model scenarios based on different levels of future greenhouse gas production.

Explore predictions from models of ocean The ERMA map tool integrates a wealth circulation, sea surface temperature and How might reefs in your area fare? Find of environmental response management current velocity using this CariCOOS tool. out more with this climate change risk data. prediction tool. Profiles in Partnership Research highlights from the Caribbean with a focus on collaborations between NOAA and partners NOAA and the National Park Service Team to Better Understand the Marine Habitats of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands and How Utilize Them The waters surrounding St. John are home Islands Coral Reef National Monument, are supplying NPS staff with the to a mix of marine habitats, many of which which encompasses nearly 13,000 acres scientific information they need to are formally protected by the National of marine habitat. manage and safeguard these

Park Service (NPS). The NPS oversees Strong, long-term research special places. the management of the Virgin Islands partnerships between NCCOS, NPS, The most recent results of this National Park that spans over 7,000 acres the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation collaboration are published in two studies of marine and terrestrial habitat, as well Program, U.S. Geological Survey and by NCCOS. The first,Coral Reef Ecosystems as the more recently established Virgin the territorial government in the USVI, of St. John, USVI: Spatial and Temporal

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910 ,USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 6 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean

Profiles in Partnership(continued from page 6) Research highlights from the Caribbean with a focus on collaborations between NOAA and partners Patterns in Fish and Benthic Communities to spawning aggregations south of St. (2001-2009), provides analysis of long­ Thomas. This information identifies term data on fish, coral and invertebrates important corridors and connected to highlight trends in resource condition. habitats along the southern coast of St. John. These findings are reported in, “The information we present in the Fish Movement Patterns in Virgin Islands report establishes a baseline for the National Park, Virgin Islands Coral Reef entire marine surrounding National Monument and Adjacent Waters. the island of St. John,” Alan Friedlander, a biologist with the University of Hawaii The St. Croix East End Marine Park. Credit: “These results show how management and report author, said. “It can be used Friends of the St. Croix East End Marine Park units are connected and highlights the to support management decisions, such need to manage across the seascape as the ongoing discussions to modify the data on fish movement patterns in among agencies,” Friedlander said. existing boundary of the Virgin Islands both managed and unmanaged areas. Coral Reef National Monument to include To do this, researchers tagged and For more information about these nearby high quality reef habitat.” tracked fish in the area over a three-year projects and to download the reports, period. The fish tracking data enabled visit: http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/. In a second report, scientists build upon them to confirm that St John’s MPAs Alicia Clarke the information in Coral Reef Ecosystems are connected by fish movements and National Ocean Service of St. John, USVI (2001-2009) by collecting that some fish move across the shelf [email protected]

Resilient Partnerships Remain a Priority in the St. Thomas East End Reserves From successful coral nurseries and Examples of current collaborative science the Bovoni Dump and , watershed management efforts to include: a primary fish nursery area. Results will regional-scale conservation initiatives, • Ongoing efforts to delineateimprove groundwater modeling and the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER) contaminant (e.g., determine heavy metal concentrations, are at the heart of collaborative research tributyltin, or TBT, and copper) and reduce further informing us of impacts from the efforts in the USVI between NGOs, flooding into Benner Bay, a high density dump on STEER resources. academic institutions and federal and boating area in STEER. Scientists from territorial agencies. NOAA and the Virgin Islands Department On a regional scale, STEER will become of Planning and Natural Resources have part of two initiatives announced by The STEER extends along the southeast conducted sediment core sampling to USVI Governor John P. DeJongh at the coast of St. Thomas, protecting almost define the extent of TBT and copper November 2013 Coral Reef Task Force 2 10 km of significant resources, including contamination. meeting in St. Croix. First, STEER will lush mangroves, sea grass beds, coral become a part of the new USVI Territorial reefs, fish and other marine life. The • Work by The Nature Conservancy Parks System. Second, the acreage reserves are also adjacent to a large (TNC), NOAA and the Environmental protected by the reserves will count and active landfill, numerous marinas, Protection Agency to develop outreach towards the territory’s goals associated businesses and residential areas. materials to inform boaters of the ills of with the Caribbean Challenge Initiative, TBT and copper. an effort to effectively conserve 20% of • TNC, NOAA, Horsley Witten Group, the coastal and marine environment by Independent Boatyard and others 2020. are designing and constructing a Many of the projects underway in the drainage project to limit flooding STEER are directly supported by NOAA. through Independent Boatyard, thereby As our projects and partnerships grow, decreasing contaminant transport into you can keep up with the latest news, at Benner Bay. More collaborative science in action: steer.reefconnect.org, or look for exciting Staghorn coral raised in TNC’s coral nursery TNC and several partners also recently updates on Facebook at ReefConnect!  and outplanted in STEER has created a installed groundwater wells in the Anne Marie Hoffman, resilient thicket near Stragglers, a popular mangrove interface between The Nature Conservancy dive site. Credit: K. Lewis, TNC [email protected] NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910 ,USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 7 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean Study Finds High Levels of Pollutants in Guánica Bay that Represent a Serious Toxic Threat to Corals and Fish Effort creates ecological baseline to improve watershed management A recent study by NOAA and partner Researchers also studied the reef’s or some other cause. At this point, we scientists found areas in Guanica Bay, ecology to help establish baseline cannot definitively link it to pollution.” Puerto Rico had some of the highest conditions that coastal managers can use concentrations of PCBs, chlordane, to measure changes resulting from new The new measurements demonstrate the chromium and nickel ever measured in efforts to manage pollution. Among the importance of long-term contaminant the history of the NOAA National Status items studied were habitat types, coral monitoring programs like NS&T, which & Trends (NS&T) nationwide contaminant cover, fish and pollution stressors, such allow new data to be placed in national assessment program, which began in as nutrients, sedimentation and toxic and historical perspective. Funding was 1986. These findings are outlined in a contaminants. provided by NCCOS and NOAA’s Coral new report released by NCCOS: Baseline Reef Conservation Program. NOAA is the Assessment of Guanica Bay, Puerto Rico in “These concentrations of pollutants co-chair of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, Support of Watershed Restoration. represent serious toxic threats to corals, which had designated Guánica Bay as fish and benthic fauna -- bottom dwelling a priority watershed. Project partners animal life and plants,” David Whitall, the included: NOAA’s Restoration Center, and report’s principal investigator and NOAA the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. ecologist, said. “We also observed lower indicators of biological health, such as For more information and to download how much of the coral covers the sea the report, visit: http://coastalscience. floor offshore from Guánica Bay when noaa.gov/.  compared to an adjacent study area, La Ben Sherman Parguera. Further research is needed to A scientist deploys a sediment grab. Credit: National Ocean Service Public Affairs NCCOS determine if this is the result of the toxins [email protected] Tropical Storms Stir Up Bad Chemistry for Corals Unexpected results from long-term monitoring of New research led by NOAA’s Atlantic saturation in our oceans are known to have broader implications across the Oceanographic and Meteorological negatively impact reef building by corals, Caribbean, where hurricanes and tropical Laboratory (AOML) and the Cooperative but this is the first study to document the storms occur every year and are predicted Institute for Marine and Atmospheric interaction between ocean acidification to become more frequent as the oceans Studies (CIMAS) at the University of Miami and tropical cyclones. continue to warm. Their findings have have revealed some unexpected impacts been published online in the Journal of to corals from severe tropical storms. Scientists think the decline in pH was Geophysical Research: Oceans. linked to a stressed coral reef community, NOAA scientists and research partners where reduced led to a These data represent the start of a measured ocean chemistry on coral reefs build-up of , making larger-scale effort to conduct long­ in Florida before, during and after the the surrounding more acidic. term monitoring of ocean acidification. passage of Tropical Storm Isaac (TS Isaac). Storm-water runoff and the stirring up This ocean acidification monitoring is This storm, which passed across the of corrosive sediment pore waters were funded cooperatively by NOAA’s Coral eastern Caribbean in late August 2012, thought to be the cause. Reef Conservation Program and Ocean caused a prolonged decline in seawater Acidification Program. acidity (pH), with depressed aragonite “We show, for the first time, that in a high saturation states for a week after the CO2 world, even modest tropical cyclones For more information e-mail: Derek. storm had passed. have the potential to cause aragonite [email protected] or visit: http://www. under-saturation on coral reefs before aoml.noaa.gov/ .  Aragonite, the carbonate mineral that the end of this century,” Derek Manzello, Simon Pittman corals depend on to build reefs, is AOML’s author of the study, said. National Ocean Service & normally very abundant in the waters NOAA in the Caribbean around tropical coral reefs. Increasing Although the measurements were [email protected] acidity and decreasing aragonite taken in Florida, the results of the study

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 8 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean Upcoming Events & Announcements A preview of upcoming important events and happenings around the Caribbean and beyond Events May Announcements 13-15: Intergovernmental Coordination Grant opportunity: The NOAA Office of March Group for the Tsunami and other Coastal Ocean and Coastal Resource Management March 15-April 3: Sea floor mapping Warning System for the Caribbean issued a request for proposals through mission in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands led and Adjacent Regions meeting held in St. its National Estuarine Research Reserve by NCCOS Thomas, USVI. Contact christa.vonh@noaa. System Collaborative Science Program. gov 18-19: Continuation of the USVI Green Proposals are due March 31, 2014. Contact

Construction Program Training, St. Croix. [email protected] or visit Contact [email protected] Grants.gov for more information. 25-27: Scientific and Statistical Committee meeting, Caribbean Management Council headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico April 22-23: 149th Meeting of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, St. Croix, USVI at the Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino. Open to the general public

7-14: Island-Based Scoping Meeting, Caribbean Fishery Management Council. Open to the general public. April 7 - Arecibo, PR and St Thomas, USVI April 8 - Mayagüez, PR and St Croix, USVI April 9 - Naguabo, PR April 10 - San Juan, PR April 14 - Ponce, PR

SHARE YOUR Underwater Photos & Artwork

Announcing the NOAA in the Caribbean K-12 Student Artwork Contest A picture is worth a thousand words, so we want to hear from you! It’s never too early to show an interest in science, oceans and marine life. NOAA in the Caribbean Newsletter is hosting an artwork contest to spotlight marine-related artwork created by students, the future of marine science and conservation.

Contest Rules: only original artwork created by K-12 students (or persons under 18) will be accepted. Please mail your entry to:

Alicia Clarke, 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4 Rm 9245, Silver Spring, Artwork by Molly Pittman, age 8, from Plymouth, UK. MD 20910, USA, or scan an image of your work and e-mail it to [email protected].

Be sure to include the following information with each entry: name, age, city/state/country. The contest deadline is April 15, 2014. The newsletter team and steering committee will select a winner and a runner up. The winners will receive a small prize and their work will be featured in the spring/summer ‘14 issue.

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 9 NOAA IN THE CARIBBEAN Connecting NOAA & Partners Across the Caribbean

NOAA in the Caribbean Newsletter Editorial Team Please e-mail us at [email protected] to subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter or to submit any questions, comments, story ideas, artwork and photographs. NOAA in the Caribbean Newsletter is produced by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science for the Southeast and Caribbean Regional Team. Contract labor was provided by CSS-Dynamac.

Editor-in-Chief Simon Pittman (NCCOS and CSS-Dynamac), [email protected] Content and Managing Editor Alicia Clarke (NCCOS and CSS-Dynamac), [email protected] Layout and Graphic Design Alicia Clarke and Zhe Liu (OCRM) Newsletter Support Mariana Careli León Pérez (NOAA in the Caribbean student intern, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez) and Kevin McMahon (NCCOS) Editorial Review Board Dana Wusinich-Mendez (CRCP), Lisamarie Carrubba (NMFS), Ruperto Chaparro (UPR SeaGrant), Bill Arnold (NMFS), David Brown (NESDIS), Simon Pittman (NOS), Jocelyn Karazsia (NMFS), Alan Leonardi (OAR ), Ron Hill (NMFS), Geno Olmi (SECART), Jean-Pierre Oriol (USVI DPNR), Peter Ortner (RSMAS University of Miami), Miguel Rolon (CFMC), Jeff Payne (NOS), Ernesto Morales (NWS), Roberto Garcia (NWS), Michael Henderson (NOS) and Christa von Hillebrandt (NWS). Editorial Note: Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for their use by the United States government.

NOAA in the Caribbean | 1305 East West Hwy., SSMC4, N/SCI-1, 9245, Silver Spring, MD 20910m USA | Vol. 2 Issue 3 10