Organize a beach clean-up. Volunteer for an Environmental Organization. Weâre also joined by Rob Ferguson, a watershed management specialist with NOAAâs Coral Reef Conservation Program. These threats ranged from sediments derived from unpaved roads and coastal development, to nutrients from failing septic systems and insufficient stormwater treatment. Plastic pollutes ocean waters and harms coral reefs and other sea life. And then jumping forward a few years in 1999, Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources designated the southwest portion of the island, known as the Canal Luis Peña as Puerto Ricoâs first No-take reserve. 9. When diving or snorkelling: 1. You can be that great generation.” ~ Nelson Mandela, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. From corals to coastal science, connect with ocean experts to explore questions about the ocean environment. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. HOST: Lisa and Rob, thanks so much for talking with me today. Protecting coral reefs depends on what experts call proper "vessel management." Corals on reefs are actually small animals. Aerial view of the island of Culebra in Puerto Rico. Learn how NOAA works to restore these valuable habitats. This can disrupt natural ⦠HOST - Rob, could you also talk a little bit about how Culebra came to be a conservation priority for NOAA and the other federal and territorial agencies? ROB - In 2013, NOAA working alongside a 501C3 non profit organization, Protectores de Cuencas which translates in English to watershed protectors, assess pollutant threats on the Island of Culebra. So in 2010, NOAA and in partnership with Department of Natural and Environmental Resources identified Culebra island as a priority for coral reef conservation which spurred NOAA to begin investing in the region leading to the designation of the Habitat Focus Area as well as Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Marine Extension of the North East Ecological Corridor. Iâm Marissa Anderson. EPA strategically applies its Clean Water Act (CWA) regulatory and non-regulatory programs to reduce land-based sources of pollution that degrade coastal waters and coral reefs that live in them. Plant a Tree – you will reduce runoff into the oceans. This living ecosystem is thus very fragile and susceptible to damage. 3. Or nutrients from fertilizer or undertreated sewage which can fuel algal blooms which block out light needed for coral reefs to thrive or even worse result in low oxygen levels. Coral reefs, also known as âthe rainforests of the seaâ, are well known for their beauty and vibrant colors, but apart from that, they are extremely important, both ecologically and economically. The worldâs coral reefs are suffering, and chemicals commonly found in sunscreen contribute to the problem. HOST - Does NOAA work with the inhabitants of Culebra to promote education and stewardship of the coral reefs? Coral reefs are an important underwater ecosystem, often called the 'rainforests of the ocean'. Never, ever touch corals or harass marine life. They actively work together to advance coral reef protection and restoration efforts. Lisa and Rob, could you both give us the 30,000 foot view of why the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program is working to protect the coral reef habitats? HOST - You had identified unpaved roads as threat. Coral reefs are fragile, partly because they are sensitive to water conditions. This phenomenon is called âCoral bleaching.â What causes coral bleaching? Coral reef protection is the process of modifying human activities to avoid damage to healthy coral reefs and to help damaged reefs recover. They provide billions of dollars in food, jobs, recreation, coastal protection, and other important goods and services to people around the world. Uniquely, not only have they been key to the technical success of our work, but Protectores de Cuencas in particular has been integral to developing the relationships and partnerships needed to build local capacity for watershed protection moving forward. EPA: 1. Key West followed in Hawaiiâs footsteps, given that the largest reef ecosystem in North America is at its shores. HOST - I understand that threats to coral reefs can vary in size, such as global, regional or local, and they can also come from different sources like natural or manmade threats. Break up with plastic. Trash that ⦠1. LISA - Research has shown that unpaved roads can produce between 10 to 100 times the amount of sediment than a natural forested landscape can. Do not stand, touch or anchor your boat on the reef. ⦠Could you explain why stabilizing them is important? So overall, partners are key to our success here. HOST - This is the NOAA Ocean Podcast. Often, the best way to conserve a coral reef is by establishing a Marine Protected Area (MPA). As part of this, NOAA identified targeted geographic regions throughout the nation where they could focus their investments and collaborations with partners to provide measurable benefits to coastal and marine habitats and the resources and communities that depend on those habitats. The manager of the Fisheries office, Nadjib Prasyad stated that protecting coral reefs is like protecting the fish. In order for this effort to be successful, we will need to assure that future development does not create new sources of pollution that undermine the benefits achieved through this work and, most importantly, threaten the health of the surrounding coral reef habitat. In total, the restoration plan identified over 21 actions that can be taken throughout the island to reduce pollution sources and improve community stewardship of coastal resources. These actions include stabilizing bare soils and unpaved roads, stabilizing and reducing impacts to the coastal zone, enhancing stormwater treatment in areas prone to pollution, as well as working with Puerto Ricoâs Aqueduct and Sewage Authority to design and implement tertiary treatment at the waste water treatment plant. Improving coral reef health by addressing local stressors will enhance their natural resilience. Understand the sensitivity of the ecosystem and refrain from overfishing or touching the reefs at all costs. Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Stabilizing a road can mean a lot of different things depending on the site. This information was then used to identify and prioritize opportunities for watershed restoration to reduce pollutant sources within the watershed. In particular, Culebra, as a part of the Puerto Rico jurisdiction, has some of the highest quality coral reef habitat in the jurisdiction itself. In 2015, Puerto Ricoâs Northeast Marine Corridor and Culebra Island were selected as the Caribbean regionâs Habitat Focus Area. And being living things means it can die. Volunteer in local beach or reef cleanups. Those goals being: HOST - Who are some of the other partners that NOAA is working with in Culebra to implement projects? So this range of pollutants can be something as seemingly benign as sediment in large quantities to chemicals found in industrial waste sites. His work consists of providing technical assistance to minimize and mitigate the impacts of pollution to nearshore habitats throughout the nationâs seven coral jurisdictions in the Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean Regions. Coral reefs provide coastal protection for communities, habitat for fish, and millions of dollars in recreation and tourism, among other benefits. For both marine life and humans on shore, coral reefs provide food, shelter, and protection. Simply their presence on coral reefs results in infections. We work collaboratively with communities to reduce direct threats to reefs in ways that provide lasting benefits to people and wildlife. Volunteer. How does land-based pollution threaten coral reefs? 5. Protect Coral Reefs At Home⦠Even Though You Live Far Away From Them. HOST - Why did NOAA choose the island of Culebra to be a focus for LBSP management? Coral reefs occupy less than one quarter of 1% of the marine environment, but hold more than 25% of all known marine species according to the WWF. Support and volunteer for organizations like Biosphere Foundation that work to protect coral reefs, oceans, rivers, lakes or other waters in your area. Itâs been fascinating learning about Culebra and the collaboration between NOAA and its partners to protect the coral habitats on this island. Healthy coral reefs are amongst the most biologically diverse, culturally significant, and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth. Lisa Vandiver, a Marine Habitat Restoration Specialist with NOAAâs Restoration Center. These pollutants can result in many coral reef impacts from construction sites or unpaved roads which can smother coral reefs and prevent new corals from growing. When traveling to a new destination, it's always a good idea to ⦠LISA - Since the people living in a watershed are intricately linked to the creation of pollutant sources it is important to fund projects that increase peopleâs awareness of the threats that they may introduce to coral reefs and provide them information of how to reduce those threats to protect corals. NOAAâs Coral Reef Conservation Program is leading efforts to study and conserve these precious resources for current and future generations. In this episode, we speak with Lisa Vandiver, a Marine Habitat Restoration Specialist with NOAAâs Restoration Center and Rob Ferguson, a watershed management specialist with NOAAâs Coral Reef Conservation Program, to learn about how NOAA works alongside local partners on the island of Culebra to protect and restore the coral reef ecosystems and reduce the impacts of pollution. Given their incredible value, it is more important now than ever to address and reverse those threats impacting coral reef ecosystems. Tourists come to walk the white sandy beaches, snorkel with sea turtles, and dive the islandâs coral reefs. So, it is imperative to the residents along with the visitors that we protect Culebraâs nearshore resources. Don't LitterHumans are filthy creatures who treat our planet and oceans like a trash can. Although this represents a great success, this island continues to face significant development pressure. Rob Ferguson, a watershed management specialist with NOAAâs Coral Reef Conservation Program. Protectores de Cuencas has forged relationships with U.S. Threats to coral reefs: land-based sources of pollution. LISA - In 2014, NOAA developed a framework to enhance internal and external collaborations to more effectively address the growing challenge of coastal and marine habitat loss and degradation. To this day, it remains one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in the US. Her work focuses on reducing the negative impact that pollution poses for coral reef habitats and the organisms it supports. NOAA has prioritized the stabilization of 28 of those miles based on their erodibility and their likelihood of sediment delivery to coral reefs. Coral reefs are under multiple threats and plastic debris is one of the most important ones. That number jumps to 75 percent when local threats to reefs are combined with the threat of thermal stress from a changing climate. Clean water is important everywhere. The movement to protect reefs along Americaâs borders is deepening. ROB - Localized, man made threats are typically the ones that are most easily managed and subsequently a priority for NOAAâs coral reef managers. Could you explain a little bit more about that and its importance? Build Wastewater Gardens® (ecological waste recycling systems) in your home, school or community. MPAs define what is allowed to happen where, and can be set up to achieve a wide variety of objectives. MPAs can be set up by the government, but in many places, traditional and local leaders have established their own community management areas which they also monitor and enforce. LISA - Land-based sources of pollution consist of a range of substances that, when they reach coastal waters, can have adverse impacts to coastal habitats like coral reefs. On Culebra these localized, man made threats range from land-based sources of pollution, to unsustainable recreational use - which would include unsustainable fishing practices, as well as physical impacts from things like vessel groundings. coral reef. By the numbers, the problem is daunting: 14,000 tons of ⦠HOST - Rob, why is it important to protect coral reef habitats in Culebra? HOST - Lisa, What are land-based sources of pollution and how do they impact the coral reefs? 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