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National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (CCMA)

Weekly Report – July 23, 2008

NOAA Releases The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008

On July 7, at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, NOAA publicly released the third in a series of status reports assessing the condition of coral reef ecosystems in 15 locations ranging from the U.S. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to the western Pacific.  Developed by the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment's Biogeography Branch, the report utilizes the results of coral reef monitoring programs and the contributions of over 270 coral reef scientists and managers to assess the condition of the nation’s coral reefs and associated ecosystems, nearly half of which are now considered to be in “poor” or “fair” condition.  The report also describes the impacts of 13 major threats in each location while offering recommendations for on-the-ground conservation actions.  To download a free copy of the report, visit http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/stateofthereefs.  For more information, contact Jenny Waddell at Jenny.Waddell@noaa.gov or (301) 713-2328 x174, or Alicia Clarke at Alicia.Clarke@noaa.gov or (301) 713-3028 x189.

Study of Fish Distributions and Fishing Locations Will Benefit Research Zone Development, Regulation Changes to Improve Management at Grays Reef

Cneter for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA) researchers have published a study of the relationship between fish distributions, fishing locations, and bottom habitats within Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.  The findings are being used by sanctuary staff considering the design of a research zone within the sanctuary, and for modifications to current spear-fishing regulations.  The collaborative study—between CCMA and NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program—provides essential life history information needed to inform management decisions at the scale of the sanctuary and southeastern U.S. continental shelf.  The distribution, habitat associations, and population size structure were quantified for three bottom fish (scamp, gag, and black sea bass) commonly targeted by recreational fishermen in the region.  The research article can be viewed online at http://afs.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-pdf&doi=10.1577%2FT07-210.1 (subscription required).  For more information, contact Matt Kendall at (301) 713-3028 x144 or Matt.Kendall@noaa.gov