Morishige Martinez, C.

We must work together to make a difference now

2015

All Islands Committee

"All Islands Coral Reef Blog: A blog about coral reef-related people, places, and projects in the U.S. and Freely Associated States. Over the last several months, the jurisdictions and islands have faced extraordinary events that have impacted coral reefs and strained both resources and capacity. And yet, huge steps forward have been made in the jurisdictions and Freely Associated States (FAS) through accomplishments such as: 1. Installation of the first rain garden in Faga'alu, American Samoa. 2. Participants in a Garapan, CNMI Conservation Action Planning Meeting discussed strategies to improve conservation in this priority watershed. 3. Our Florida Reefs: River to Reefs waterways tour highlight the importance of protecting healthy estuaries to ensure healthy coral reefs. 4. The Guam Reef Resilience strategy, detailing Guams response to specific coral reef threats and suggested implementation strategies, is scheduled to be completed by December 2015. 5. Hawaii demonstrated success in urchin hatchery and coral nursery operations for mitigation. The state is also working toward establishing the first coral mitigation bank in the United States. 6. Work was done, including volunteers, in Puerto Ricos coral priority area, Cabo Rojo, with Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis, threatened coral species. 7. A new Visitors Center was created at the St. Croix East End Marine Park in the U.S. Virgin Islands to help highlight the value of coral reef ecosystems. 8. In the Federated States of Micronesia, a cooperative effort helped pass the landmark Shark Bill?, which covers the nearly 3 million square miles of EEZ. 9. The Marshall Islands are working to set forth new temporary regulations regarding fishing closures, fishing techniques, fish sales, and fish sizes in order to protect herbivores in anticipation of a bleaching event. 10. The Palau International Coral Reef Center is studying the impacts of two super-typhoons on Palau coral reefs and will quantify their recovery potential and offer adapted management strategies to policymakers. Awesome work managing and conserving our coral reefs occurs every day in the jurisdictions and FAS. We must continue to work together towards a better future for our coral reef ecosystems."