Hoot Whitney, Burdick David

Guam Coral Bleaching Response Plan

2017

Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans University of Guam Marine Laboratory

"The Guam Coral Bleaching Response Plan was developed through the collaboration of multiple local and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Statistics and Plans (BSP) and the Guam Coastal Management Program (GCMP), the Guam Department of Agricultures (GDOAG) Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR), the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA), the University of Guam Marine Laboratory (UOGML), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the National Park Service (NPS), Joint Region Marianas (JRM), and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Guam Coral Bleaching Response Plan exists to maximize the effectiveness of activities conducted by the Guam Coral Reef Response Team and ensure efficient use of resources and human capital by providing a standardized framework for responding to coral bleaching events. Coral bleaching is largely driven by ocean warming that cannot be directly influenced at a meaningful scale by local intervention, therefore the management response to coral bleaching is especially complex and challenging. This plan was first drafted in 2011 and finalized in 2017, although this document is intended to be a working draft that will be periodically updated and improved. This plan includes an in-depth description of Guams early warning system for coral bleaching events, standard operating procedures for response implementation including detailed assessment protocols, and recommendations for post-bleaching management, reef recovery, and restoration approaches. This document is intended for use by coral reef managers and scientists on Guam, but may also be useful to individuals and groups in other locations impacted by coral bleaching, especially those who are interested in developing similar coral bleaching response plans. "

coral bleaching, bleaching response plan, coral bleaching events, management, reef recovery, restoration