The Nature Conservancy

Support for Effective Management and Engagement of Stakeholders of USVI Marine Managed Areas

2021

The Nature Conservancy; NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

"Building resilience by eliminating or reducing anthropogenic threats is necessary for the recovery of US Virgin Island (USVI) reefs and the services that they provide, which are disappearing. However, in the Caribbean, natural recovery will be slow to occur given the algal-dominated status of many reefs. The pro-active collection of fragments of opportunity (corals broken through natural processes), propagation, and re-attachment onto key coral reef sites, provide a win-win scenario for corals that would have died if left unattended and for reefs that struggle to naturally recover. Continued support is needed for coral restoration in STXEEMP as it is one of the best-suited areas for coral reef restoration activities on St. Croix. Because of its location on the easternmost end of St. Croix and the prevailing east-to-west current, the out-planting of corals in the St. Croix East End Marine Park (STXEEMP) should eventually lead to more corals and fish able to re-seed the park as well as adjacent reefs. By engaging the local community and protected area managers to implement coral restoration at the STXEEMP, the visibility and use of the park will also increase, leading to a greater understanding of the park, support of park projects, and compliance to rules and regulations. By continuing to support place-based, site level management of the St. Croix East End Marine Park, we are addressing goals 2, 4, 5, and 6 of the USVI Coral Reef Management Priorities. Specifically, we are transferring information to the public, restoring fisheries resources, recovering affected coral reefs through restoration, and improving coordination and communication among coral reef practitioners."

USVI, St. Croix, outreach, education, coral reef, coral restoration, coral outplanting, coral nursery, coral reef management

NOS

OCM

FY2016 CRCP Project ID 31103; Project Title: FY16/FY17/FY18/FY19 - Non-Governmental Organization Partnership; Principal Investigator: Craig Reid; Grant NA16NOS4820106.

NA16NOS4820106