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National Ocean Service
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NOS activities include extensively mapping coral reefs using various technologies such as satellite imagery. This is a satellite image of Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The atoll has a huge reef area of 1,166 square kilometers out to depths of 100 meters.
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The National Ocean Service (NOS) is charged with balancing environmental protection and economic prosperity along the nation’s coasts. NOS assists coastal communities in their efforts to respond to changing conditions, works to protect U.S. coastal and ocean environments, and is responsible for ensuring safe navigation.
One of the agency’s priorities is to increase public understanding of coastal and oceanic habitats, including coral reefs. NOS dedicates major resources to further understanding about coral reef destruction, harmful algal blooms, coastal “dead” zones, chemical contaminants, human population pressures, climate change and other threats to coral reefs. NOS conducts coral reef mapping and monitoring activities—especially within national marine sanctuaries— that fulfill objectives outlined in the Coral Reef Task Force’s National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs.
Mapping
Monitoring
Research
Management and Protection
International Efforts
Education and Outreach
Mapping
NOS scientists currently are developing digital maps of the U.S. Caribbean using aerial photographs. Maps of coral reefs in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) have been completed, and maps of the eight main Hawaiian Islands and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are in progress. In 2002, mapping of the U.S. Pacific islands will begin. Precise global positioning system data for all U.S. islands and territories in the Pacific and Caribbean currently are being compiled. These data will be used to more accurately map shallow-water reefs, as well as update nautical charts and develop comprehensive coastal zone management plans. In addition, the mapping team is developing a Web-enabled, geographic information systems (GIS)-based data management and information system for all U.S. reef monitoring and mapping data.
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Researchers conduct coral larvae recruitment studies. (Ed Enns)
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Monitoring
NOS is working with partners and stakeholders to coordinate a national program to assess, inventory and monitor coral reef ecosystems—a specific objective of the National Action Plan. The agency is working to integrate individual monitoring programs and sites into a nationally- coordinated network. The network will allow coral reef resource managers and scientists to share monitoring information more easily, and should help to fill monitoring gaps. In addition, a coordinated monitoring effort that produces robust, consistent data will allow NOS to prepare biennial reports on the status and trends of coral health, community structure and conditions.
The National Marine Sanctuaries System includes five national marine sanctuaries that contain tropical or temperate coral reef ecosystems—Fagatele Bay, Florida Keys, Flower Garden Banks, Gray’s Reef and the Hawaiian Islands. Monitoring activities in the sanctuaries have been ongoing. In several sanctuaries, coral reef monitoring activities predate sanctuary designation.
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Although spearfishing and other fishing techniques are prohibited in the nation’s sanctuaries, effects of overfishing are still seen because of insufficient sanctuary enforcement and less stringent regulations outside the sanctuary. (Nancy Daschbach)
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In the Hawaiian Islands, a coral reef monitoring and assessment program recently has been established. In the Florida Keys, 18 no-take zones were established after monitoring activities revealed a downward trend in coral cover. Monitoring activities continue both inside and outside of the no-take zones, and preliminary results indicate that spiny lobster and fish populations within the zones are rebounding. In Gray’s Reef, a monitoring program tracks the benthic and fish communities, and collects oceanographic data. A NOAA weather buoy also monitors general environmental conditions. Finally, in Fagatele Bay and Flower Garden Banks, monitoring activities track the relatively healthy coral stands found in each
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Research
NOS is supporting efforts implemented by the coral health and disease consortium to understand the causes of coral mortality and reef decline, as well as outbreaks of coral disease and bleaching. Additionally, NOS is supporting research to develop improved monitoring tools for coral reef ecosystems in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Management and Protection
NOS supports numerous coral reef management and protection efforts. NOS scientists are studying the effectiveness of coral reef management and protection in marine protected areas (MPAs). Future plans include MPA effectiveness pilot projects in Hawaii, Guam and USVI. Results should help managers determine the effectiveness of essential fish habitat designations and MPAs, and may serve as a foundation for developing monitoring plans. In addition, scientists in USVI are studying the effects of sedimentation—caused by development and construction activities—on nearby reefs. They are examining the drainage paths through which sediment is deposited in an effort to develop and implement best management practices for construction activities.
NOS hazardous materials response scientists are updating environmental sensitivity index maps for Hawaii, Puerto Rico and USVI, and are developing spill response guides for coral ecosystems. Guidance documents that discuss the effects of oil on corals and mangroves also are in development. In addition, NOS is working with the National Marine Fisheries Service to remove marine debris in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
International Efforts
NOS supports international partnership efforts to conserve coral reefs. Projects include the International Coral Grants Program, which will provide funding for international projects that study management effectiveness, make socioeconomic assessments, develop regional action plans for no-take reserves, and monitor coral reef ecosystems. Another project will establish standardized socioeconomic monitoring protocols for coral reef managers in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. Other projects will work to improve the effectiveness of existing and proposed international marine preserves, and international workshops to develop effectiveness guidelines will be test-piloted in 2002.
Education and Outreach
NOS is developing specialized nautical charts to educate private boaters in the Florida Keys about the location of coral reefs in an effort to reduce the number of groundings. The charts will include navigation information and instructions for boaters on how to “read” the water to avoid collisions with coral reefs.
NOS also is developing education materials, displaying exhibits at conferences and implementing training workshops that emphasize technical skills and socioeconomic evaluation of coral reef ecosystems.
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