DOCSLIB.ORG

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States STATUSSTATUS OFOF CORALCORAL REEFSREEFS ININ THETHE U.S.U.S. VIRGINVIRGIN ISLANDSISLANDS DonDon Catanzaro,Catanzaro, CarolineCaroline Rogers,Rogers, ZandyZandy Hillis-Starr,Hillis-Starr, RickRick Nemeth,Nemeth, andand MarciaMarcia TaylorTaylor THE STATUS OF THE CORAL diversity occur on geological features REEFS OF THE U.S. VIRGIN offshore at greater depths. ISLANDSISLANDSISLANDS By D. Catanzaro, C. Rogers, Z. Together the USVI total Hillis-Starr, R. Nemeth, M. roughly 347 km2 of land Taylor area. St. Croix is the largest of the three USVI islands at Introduction 207 km2 (34 km by 10 km) with a relatively high The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is a western mountainous tip. U.S. territory located approximately This island has coral growth 1,000 nmi southeast of Miami and along much of the insular 45 nmi east of Puerto Rico. Coral shelf with a well-developed reefs are found around the three barrier reef on the eastern main islands of St. Croix, St. John, end, and deep coral walls on and St. Thomas, as well as most the north shore. St. Croix is offshore cays. Fringing reefs, deep the only island with a reefs (wall and shelf-edge), patch permanent source of reefs, and spur and groove Figure 186. Shallow-water reef freshwater. St. Thomas is communities cover 61% of the 2 formations are present on all three region (Photo: William Harrigan). the second largest at 83 km islands although only St. Croix has well (22 km by 5 km) and St. developed barrier reefs. Bank reefs and John is the smallest of the three USVI 2 scattered patch reefs with high coral islands at 52 km (14 by 5 km). Recently NOAA mapped USVI coral reefs Figure 187. Benthic habitats of Buck Island Channel, St. Croix, USVI were mapped from and associated aerial photographs ( Credit: John Christensen). ecosystems to LegendLegendLegend approximately a Sand Mud depth of 20 m Seagrass/Continuous Seagrass/70-90% and delineated a Seagrass/50-70% total submerged Seagrass/30-50% 2 Seagrass/10-30% area of 485 km Macroalgae/Continuous Macroalgae/Patchy/50-90% (Kendall 2001b, Macroalgae/Patchy/10-50% Monaco et al. Reef/Linear Reef Reef/Spur and Groove Reef 2001). Deeper Reef/Patch Reef (Individual) water reef Reef/Patch Reef (Aggregated) Reef/Scattered Coral-Rock habitats off the Reef/Colonized Pavement Reef/Colonized Bedrock USVI islands Reef/Col. Pav. with Chan. have yet to be Hardbottom/Reef Rubble Hardbottom/Uncol. Pav. mapped. Coral Hardbottom/Uncol. Bedrock reef and Hardbottom/Uncol. Pav. with Chan. Land colonized hard- U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Mangrove U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Artificial bottom habitats Unknown comprised 297.9 No Attributes 131131131131131131 km2 and accounted for 61% of the mapped additional site on St. John has eight non- area; submerged aquatic vegetation randomly located transects which have covered 160 km2 or 33% of the mapped been sampled for three years. total, and unconsolidated sediments and uncolonized hard-bottom habitat Live scleractinian coral cover varies at comprised 23 km2 or the remaining 4%. these sites from a low of 5.8% (Buck Island, St. Croix) to a high of 22.8% Condition of Coral Reefs (Mennebeck, St. John). It should be noted that the site with non-randomly The long-term datasets for the USVI located transects has a live scleractinian represent some of the best temporal data coral cover of 45.3% (Tektite, St. John). available for the Caribbean (Connell Results of the repeated sampling are varied 1997). Although monitoring and research but overall, 76% of transects showed has occurred on all three USVI islands, declines in the amount of live coral cover consistent long-term datasets exist only for when the first year is compared to the third St. John and Buck Island, St. Croix (e.g. year. Percent of transects exhibiting 1988 to present) and have been collected declines at individual sites are as follows: primarily by the Department of the 40% (Yawzi, St. John), 65% (Buck Island, Interior, National Park Service St. Croix), 75% (Mennebeck, (NPS) and U.S. Geological Survey St. John), 95% (Newfound, (USGS). Most of these studies are St. John), and 62% (Tektite, targeted in individual bays that St. John). might not be representative of conditions within the entire USVI NOAA monitoring funds (Table 1). were received by the USVI Territorial Government in 2001 and University of Corals and Other Invertebrates Virgin Islands conducted the – NPS has conducted and supported study. The first year of this long-term monitoring on St. John project supported six sites on (site of Virgin Islands National St. Croix (six transects each) Park, VINP) and Buck Island, St where coral, sea urchin Croix (site of Buck Island Reef (Diadema antillarum), and National Monument, BINM) since reef fish have been 1988. Over time, statistical rigor Figure 188. Monitoring in the monitored. Live scleractinian has significantly increased due to USVI using videography (Photo: coral cover varied from a improvements in technology and USGS). low of 6% (Lang Bank) to sample design. For the last three years 25% (Sprat Hole) (Nemeth et al. in press). USGS and NPS scientists have Monitoring will be repeated in 2002. collaborated on long-term monitoring of coral reefs using a comprehensive protocol – Branching based on use of a digital video camera White-band Disease along randomly chosen transects (Miller acroporid species are most susceptible to and Rogers 2001, Rogers et al. in press). White-band Disease. At BINM, elkhorn Acropora palmata This protocol is one of the most coral ( ) cover fell from statistically rigorous methods to monitor 85% in 1976 to 5% in 1988 because of coral reefs in the world. A total of 79 mortality from the combination of storms et al randomly located transects at four sites and disease (Rogers . 1982, Gladfelter (three in St. John and one at Buck Island, 1991). White-band Disease is still occasionally seen throughout the USVI U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS St. Croix) have been repeatedly sampled for two or more years. An additional site at and shallow reef areas are now graveyards Buck Island, St. Croix (20 transects) has of dead elkhorn coral, with branches and been sampled for one year and one fragments interspersed among algal­ 132132132132132132 none on St. Thomas or St. Croix (Nemeth et al. in press). At Buck Island, Black- band Disease is seen on Diploria colonies but typically on fewer than 10 colonies a year (Zandy Hillis-Starr pers. comm). A limited, recent assessment across the USVI found 3.4% (St. Thomas), 7.6% (St. John), and 2.0% (St. Croix) of coral colonies over 25 cm in diameter showing signs of disease (Nemeth et al. in press). Figure 189. White-band disease on elkhorn coral (Photo: Other Diseases – Small USVI patch reefs Caroline Rogers). of Porites porites have died from an covered skeletons still upright in normal unknown disease (Rogers 1999, J. Miller growth position. pers. comm., B. Kojis pers. comm.) and some of these reefs have been dead for There is current evidence that elkhorn over 12 years (see Beets et al. 1986). coral is recovering in the USVI. Porites porites is not known to be Recruitment of elkhorn coral colonies may susceptible to either White-band or Black- be increasing and biologists from NPS, band Disease. USGS, and UVI are now monitoring and mapping this species at several USVI sites. Sea fan disease, caused by the fungus Aspergillis syndowii, occurs in sea fans on Plague – In July 1997, conspicuous white St. John reefs (G. Smith pers. comm.). patches of necrotic tissue began to appear This pathogenic strain has been isolated on scleractinian corals in several bays from air samples taken during African dust around St. John. Tissue samples have events, suggesting a possible link between confirmed that Plague is affecting these air quality and sea fan condition. corals. It has now been observed on 14 coral species. The disease can progress up Sea Urchins – According to Lessios et al. to 0.5 cm/day but does not always result in (1984), the condition of USVI coral reefs total colony mortality, however diseased has been significantly impacted by a die- portions never recover. Monthly surveys off of the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema on one St. John reef have documented new incidence of disease every month from Figure 190, A. Long-spined sea urchin feeding on reef algae 1997 to present (Miller et al. in press) (Photo: NOAA Photo Gallery). B. Urchin dead from a Caribbean-wide disease. (Photo: Caroline Rogers). making this the most destructive disease active on St. John. Black-band Disease – This disease primarily infects major reef-building corals such as Montastraea annularis and Diploria strigosa (Edmunds 1991, Richardson et al. 1997). In 1988, Edmunds (1991) found very low incidence of Black- B band Disease (0.2%) on corals in seven sites in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Nemeth reported 1.2% on St. John and A U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 133133133133133133 around St. John and St. Thomas in 1981, 1985, 1990, 1996, and 2000 (Wood and Olsen 1983, Boulon 1987, Friedlander et al.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • THE BATTLE of the CORAL SEA — an OVERVIEW by A.H
    50 THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA — AN OVERVIEW by A.H. Craig Captain Andrew H. Craig, RANEM, served in the RAN 1959 to 1988, was Commanding officer of 817 Squadron (Sea King helicopters), and served in Vietnam 1968-1979, with the RAN Helicopter Flight, Vietnam and No.9 Squadroom RAAF. From December 1941 to May 1942 Japanese armed forces had achieved a remarkable string of victories. Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore were lost and US forces in the Philippines were in full retreat. Additionally, the Japanese had landed in Timor and bombed Darwin. The rapid successes had caught their strategic planners somewhat by surprise. The naval and army staffs eventually agreed on a compromise plan for future operations which would involve the invasion of New Guinea and the capture of Port Moresby and Tulagi. Known as Operation MO, the plan aimed to cut off the eastern sea approaches to Darwin and cut the lines of communication between Australia and the United States. Operation MO was highly complex and involved six separate naval forces. It aimed to seize the islands of Tulagi in the Solomons and Deboyne off the east coast of New Guinea. Both islands would then be used as bases for flying boats which would conduct patrols into the Coral Sea to protect the flank of the Moresby invasion force which would sail from Rabaul. That the Allied Forces were in the Coral Sea area in such strength in late April 1942 was no accident. Much crucial intelligence had been gained by the American ability to break the Japanese naval codes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lower Bathyal and Abyssal Seafloor Fauna of Eastern Australia T
    O’Hara et al. Marine Biodiversity Records (2020) 13:11 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41200-020-00194-1 RESEARCH Open Access The lower bathyal and abyssal seafloor fauna of eastern Australia T. D. O’Hara1* , A. Williams2, S. T. Ahyong3, P. Alderslade2, T. Alvestad4, D. Bray1, I. Burghardt3, N. Budaeva4, F. Criscione3, A. L. Crowther5, M. Ekins6, M. Eléaume7, C. A. Farrelly1, J. K. Finn1, M. N. Georgieva8, A. Graham9, M. Gomon1, K. Gowlett-Holmes2, L. M. Gunton3, A. Hallan3, A. M. Hosie10, P. Hutchings3,11, H. Kise12, F. Köhler3, J. A. Konsgrud4, E. Kupriyanova3,11,C.C.Lu1, M. Mackenzie1, C. Mah13, H. MacIntosh1, K. L. Merrin1, A. Miskelly3, M. L. Mitchell1, K. Moore14, A. Murray3,P.M.O’Loughlin1, H. Paxton3,11, J. J. Pogonoski9, D. Staples1, J. E. Watson1, R. S. Wilson1, J. Zhang3,15 and N. J. Bax2,16 Abstract Background: Our knowledge of the benthic fauna at lower bathyal to abyssal (LBA, > 2000 m) depths off Eastern Australia was very limited with only a few samples having been collected from these habitats over the last 150 years. In May–June 2017, the IN2017_V03 expedition of the RV Investigator sampled LBA benthic communities along the lower slope and abyss of Australia’s eastern margin from off mid-Tasmania (42°S) to the Coral Sea (23°S), with particular emphasis on describing and analysing patterns of biodiversity that occur within a newly declared network of offshore marine parks. Methods: The study design was to deploy a 4 m (metal) beam trawl and Brenke sled to collect samples on soft sediment substrata at the target seafloor depths of 2500 and 4000 m at every 1.5 degrees of latitude along the western boundary of the Tasman Sea from 42° to 23°S, traversing seven Australian Marine Parks.
    [Show full text]
  • Visioning of the Coral Sea Marine Park
    2020 5 AUSTRALIA VISIONING THE CORAL SEA MARINE PARK #VisioningCoralSea 04/29/2020 - 06/15/2020 James Cook University, The University of Cairns, Australia Sydney, Geoscience Australia, Queensland Dr. Robin Beaman Museum, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Biopixel, Coral Sea Foundation, Parks Australia Expedition Objectives Within Australia’s largest marine reserve, the recently established Coral Sea Marine Geological Evolution Insight Park, lies the Queensland Plateau, one of the To collect visual data to allow the understanding of the world’s largest continental margin plateaus physical and temporal changes that have occurred at nearly 300,000 square kilometers. Here historically on the Queensland Plateau. a wide variety of reef systems range from large atolls and long banks to shallow coral pinnacles. This region is virtually unmapped. This project addresses a range of priorities Mapping Seafloor of the Australian Government in terms of mapping and characterizing a poorly known To map, in detail, the steeper reef flanks using frontier area of the Australian marine estate. high-resolution multibeam mapping. The seabed mapping of reefs and seamounts in the Coral Sea Marine Park is a high priority for Parks Australia, the managers of ROV Expedition Australia’s Commonwealth Marine Parks. The new multibeam data acquired will be To document deep-sea faunas and their habitats, as added to the national bathymetry database well as the biodiversity and distribution patterns of hosted by Geoscience Australia and released these unexplored ecosystems. Additionally, the ROV through the AusSeabed Data Portal. dives will help to determine the extent and depth of coral bleaching. REPORT IMPACT 6 We celebrated World Ocean Day during the expedition with a livestream bringing together Falkor ́s crew with scientist, students, and athletes to share their ocean experiences.
    [Show full text]
  • Indigenous Gold from St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands: a Materials-Based Analysis
    1 ABSTRACT INDIGENOUS GOLD FROM ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: A MATERIALS-BASED ANALYSIS Stephen E. Jankiewicz, MA Department of Anthropology Northern Illinois University, 2016 Dr. Mark W. Mehrer, Director The purpose of this research is to examine the origin, manufacturing technique, function, and meaning of metals used during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries on the island of St. John, United States Virgin Islands. This project focuses on two metal artifacts recovered during National Park Service excavations conducted between 1998 and 2001 at a shoreline indigenous site located on Cinnamon Bay. These objects currently represent two of only three metal artifacts reported from the entire ancient Lesser Antilles. Chemical and physical analyses of the objects were completed with nondestructive techniques including binocular stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry with assistance from laboratories located at Northern Illinois University, Beloit College, Hope College and The Field Museum. This data will be combined with contextual site data and compared to other metal objects recovered throughout the ancient Caribbean. i NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY DEKALB, ILLINOIS MAY 2016 INDIGENOUS GOLD FROM ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: A MATERIALS-BASED ANALYSIS BY STEPHEN E. JANKIEWICZ ©2016 Stephen E. Jankiewicz A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY Thesis Advisor: Dr. Mark W. Mehrer ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not exist without the help and support of so many wonderful people. I am forever indebted to all of you. I would like to first thank my advisor Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Oceania & Antarctica, Locate and Describe
    Oceania & Antarctica, locate and describe » Activity 1. In pairs, match geographical features names in the word bank with the correct description. ___ Antarctic Peninsula ___ Ayers Rock/Uluru ___ Darling River ___ Great Barrier Reef ___ Great Dividing Range ___ Melanesia ___ Micronesia ___ New Zealand ___ Polynesia ___ Tasmania 'Meeting points': Torres Strait Note: In bold, description verbs for your cards. southern Pacific Ocean. Historically, the islands have been known as South Sea Islands even | 1 | • It is a group of islands situated some 1,500 though the Hawaiian Islands are located in the North kilometres east of Australia. In fact, it is an island Pacific. country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and it comprises two main landmasses and around 600 | 6 | • It is an island located 240 km to the south of smaller islands. the Australian mainland, separated by the Bass Strait. The island covers 64,519 km². | 2 | • It is a large sandstone rock formation in central Australia. This rock is sacred to the Aboriginal | 7 | • It is Australia's most substantial mountain people of the area. It lies 335 km south west of the range. It stretches more than 3,500 kmfrom the nearest large town, Alice Springs. The area around northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire the formation is home to ancient paintings. length of the eastern coastline. | 3 | • It is a subregion of Oceania extending from | 8 | • It is the third longest river in Australia, New Guinea island in the southwestern Pacific measuring 1,472 km from its source in northern Ocean to the Torres Strait, and eastward to Fiji.
    [Show full text]
  • Virgin Islands National Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Virgin Islands National Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2010/226 THIS PAGE: Underwater ecosystems including coral reefs are a primary natural resource at Virgin Islands National Park. National Park Service photograph. ON THE COVER: This view of Trunk Bay shows the steep slopes characteristic of Virgin Islands Na- tional Park. National Park Service photo- graph courtesy Rafe Boulon (Virgin Islands National Park). Virgin Islands National Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2010/226 Geologic Resources Division Natural Resource Program Center P.O. Box 25287 Denver, Colorado 80225 July 2010 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea 20 Tom C.L
    The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea 20 Tom C.L. Bridge, Robin J. Beaman, Pim Bongaerts, Paul R. Muir, Merrick Ekins, and Tiffany Sih Abstract agement approaches that explicitly considered latitudinal The Coral Sea lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, bor- and cross-shelf gradients in the environment resulted in dered by Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon mesophotic reefs being well-represented in no-take areas in Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the Tasman Sea. The the GBR. In contrast, mesophotic reefs in the Coral Sea Great Barrier Reef (GBR) constitutes the western margin currently receive little protection. of the Coral Sea and supports extensive submerged reef systems in mesophotic depths. The majority of research on Keywords the GBR has focused on Scleractinian corals, although Mesophotic coral ecosystems · Coral · Reef other taxa (e.g., fishes) are receiving increasing attention. · Queensland · Australia To date, 192 coral species (44% of the GBR total) are recorded from mesophotic depths, most of which occur shallower than 60 m. East of the Australian continental 20.1 Introduction margin, the Queensland Plateau contains many large, oce- anic reefs. Due to their isolated location, Australia’s Coral The Coral Sea lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, cover- Sea reefs remain poorly studied; however, preliminary ing an area of approximately 4.8 million square kilometers investigations have confirmed the presence of mesophotic between latitudes 8° and 30° S (Fig. 20.1a). The Coral Sea is coral ecosystems, and the clear, oligotrophic waters of the bordered by the Australian continent on the west, Papua New Coral Sea likely support extensive mesophotic reefs.
    [Show full text]
  • Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Isla
    UNHCR staff monitoring programmes attheLoveAChild field hospital in Fond Parisien, Haiti. Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize British overseas territories (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat) Canada Dominica Dominican Republic Dutch overseas territories in the Caribbean (Aruba, Curaçao, Saint Maarten, Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, Saba) French overseas departments (Martinique, Guadeloupe) Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago United States of America 348 UNHCR Global Report 2010 and the OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS l UNHCR continued to seek the political and financial l More than 80 per cent of UNHCR’s global resettlement support of the Governments of the United States and referrals are to the United States and Canada. Canada in order to fulfil its protection mandate and find comprehensive solutions for refugees. Working environment l In the United States, UNHCR sought to ensure that the country’s laws and policies, as well as their implementation, In the United States, the Government has confirmed its were in accordance with its obligations under the 1967 commitment to international obligations, particularly with Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. Specifically, regard to the parole of asylum-seekers. However, UNHCR promoted reforms to the way in which the refugee adjudications by the immigration courts and administrative definition is being applied under US law and monitored the and federal
    [Show full text]
  • USGS Analysis of the Australian UNCLOS Submission
    USGS Analysis of the Australian UNCLOS Submission By Deborah R. Hutchinson and Robert W. Rowland Open-File Report 2006-1073 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia For Additional Information: See the United Nations web page on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm, and the Executive Summary of the Australian UNCLOS submission at http://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new?submission_files/submission_aus.htm. Contact Deborah R. Hutchinson U.S. Geological Survey 384 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA, 02543 [email protected] 508-457-2263 Robert W. Rowland U.S. Geological Survey, Retired 55825 River Shore Lane Elkhart, IN 46516 [email protected] For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Suggested citation Hutchinson, D.R., and Rowland, R.W., 2006, USGS Analysis of the Australian UNCLOS Submission: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1073, 19 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1073. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government, nor does the interpretation presented here reflect official U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Research and Monitoring in Australia's Coral Sea: a Review
    Review of Research in Australia’s Coral Sea D. Ceccarelli DSEWPaC Final Report – 21 Jan 2011 _______________________________________________________________________ Research and Monitoring in Australia’s Coral Sea: A Review Report to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities By Daniela Ceccarelli, Oceania Maritime Consultants January 21st, 2011 1 Review of Research in Australia’s Coral Sea D. Ceccarelli DSEWPaC Final Report – 21 Jan 2011 _______________________________________________________________________ Research and Monitoring in Australia’s Coral Sea: A Review By: Oceania Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd Author: Dr. Daniela M. Ceccarelli Internal Review: Libby Evans-Illidge Cover Photo: Image of the author installing a temperature logger in the Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve, by Zoe Richards. Preferred Citation: Ceccarelli, D. M. (2010) Research and Monitoring in Australia’s Coral Sea: A Review. Report for DSEWPaC by Oceania Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd, Magnetic Island. Oceania Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd 3 Warboys Street, Nelly Bay, 4819 Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia. Ph: 0407930412 [email protected] ABN 25 123 674 733 2 Review of Research in Australia’s Coral Sea D. Ceccarelli DSEWPaC Final Report – 21 Jan 2011 _______________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Coral Sea is an international body of water that lies between the east coast of Australia, the south coasts of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, extends to Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island to the east and is bounded by the Tasman Front to the south. The portion of the Coral Sea within Australian waters is the area of ocean between the seaward edge of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), the limit of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to the east, the eastern boundary of the Torres Strait and the line between the Solitary Islands and Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs to the south.
    [Show full text]
  • Supreme Court of the United States
    No. 20-303 ================================================================================================================ In The Supreme Court of the United States --------------------------------- ♦ --------------------------------- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Petitioner, v. JOSE LUIS VAELLO-MADERO, Respondent. --------------------------------- ♦ --------------------------------- On Petition For Writ Of Certiorari To The United States Court Of Appeals For The First Circuit --------------------------------- ♦ --------------------------------- BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE VIRGIN ISLANDS BAR ASSOCIATION IN OPPOSITION TO SUMMARY REVERSAL --------------------------------- ♦ --------------------------------- DWYER ARCE Counsel of Record KUTAK ROCK LLP The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street Omaha, Nebraska 68102 (402) 346-6000 [email protected] Counsel for Amicus Curiae Virgin Islands Bar Association ================================================================================================================ COCKLE LEGAL BRIEFS (800) 225-6964 WWW.COCKLELEGALBRIEFS.COM i QUESTION PRESENTED Is Congress’s authority to arbitrarily discriminate against Americans living in U.S. territories so well established that summary reversal is warranted? ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page QUESTION PRESENTED................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................... ii TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ................................. iii I. INTERESTS OF AMICUS CURIAE ......... 1 II. INTRODUCTION ...................................... 2 A.
    [Show full text]
  • Let's Talk About '.Sx' (And Others) International - Hogan Lovells International LLP
    Let's talk about '.sx' (and others) International - Hogan Lovells International LLP May 15 2012 Last year, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) granted the islands of Sint Maarten and Curaçao the country codes ‘.sx’ and ‘.cw’, respectively. Sint Maarten and Curaçao used to be part of the Netherlands Antilles, an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands consisting of two separate groups of islands: l Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, off the Venezuelan coast; and l Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius, southeast of the Virgin Islands. Sint Maarten and Curaçao became separate countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in October 2010, when the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved; Aruba (‘.aw’) already had this status since 1986. As for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (also known as the ‘BES Islands’), they became municipalities of the Netherlands and were granted the country code ‘.bq’ by ISO. Following the allocation of their country codes, Sint Maarten and Curaçao made applications to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the delegation of the ‘.sx’ and ‘.cw’ country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs), and these were granted. The ‘.sx’ registry recently announced the launch of ‘.sx’, which will follow the schedule below: l Grandfathering period: until May 2 2012 - during this period, holders of existing ‘.an’ domain names who are based in Sint Maarten will be able to secure the corresponding domain names under ‘.sx’. ‘.an’ was the ccTLD for the Netherlands Antilles, which have been dissolved. Thus the ‘.an’ ccTLD is now being phased out; since January 31 2012, domain name registrations under ‘.an’ are no longer possible, and existing ‘.an’ domain names will be deleted from October 31 2013.
    [Show full text]