Mission: Iconic Reefs

Jennifer Koss NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program February 2021 Update - ICRI Iconic Reefs Overview Strategy Current Priorities New Developments Overview

● Phased approach to restore 7 ecologically and culturally significant coral reefs within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

● Sites represent a diversity of habitats, a range of human uses, & show a high probability of restoration success 2019 2020 2025 2021 2028 2025 2035

Status Quo Phase 1a Phase 1b Phase 2 2 10 15 25

Elkhorn Restoration - focuses Balances the reef with a Focuses on slower growing No action leaves the reef on quickly restoring reef more diverse group of corals that give the reef its close to functional collapse structure with rapidly growing corals and the addition of full diversity and cover. and at risk of major framework building corals that other non-coral species Completion of Phase 2 are not affected by the current economic implications. should result in a resilient disease event. such as grazers. and regenerative reef.

● Utilizes Phase 1 ● Trending Down ● Immediate Start ● Infrastructure Buildout Infrastructure + New ● Ecological Catastrophe ● No R&D Required ● Some R&D Needs ● Achievable R&D ● Widespread Economic ● No Special Permitting ● 1-2 Year Ramp Up ● 10 Year Construction Implications ● Rapid Results ● 7 Year Construction Period ● Very Little Time Period

* Within the appropriate reef sites and zones for species targeted in Phase 1A (Elkhorn Coral). All percent cover values are generalized estimates across the sites and zones. Exact values are available on a per reef and zone basis. 1 Site Preparation

2 Coral Propagation and Planting

3 Grazer Supplementation

4 Stewardship and Maintenance

5 Monitoring and Adaptive Mgt. Iconic Reefs ● Implementation & Operations Working Groups ● Stewardship & Community Engagement

● Restoration Monitoring & Research

● Communications & Outreach

● Funding & Fundraising Current Priorities: Sites

Eastern Dry Rocks Reef

NFWF Coastal Resilience Fund

US$5M Current Priorities: R&D

Grazer Mariculture: Caribbean King Crab

College of the Florida Keys

Florida International University New Developments:

Continued Operationalization of IR Sites New Developments: ➢ United Way of Collier & the Keys - Reef Revitalization Request for Proposals ○ US$2.5M for P1A advances at 4 P1A Fiscal additional IR sites

Advancements ➢ NFWF Coral Fund ○ US $1.5M for restoration capacity building ○ Specific target environment - IR reef sites Thanks!