Biogeography Branch
Produced the third assessment of US coral reef ecosystems, “The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States”
This report assesses the condition of coral reef ecosystems in 15 locations ranging from the U.S. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to the western Pacific. This report was released by NOAA senior leadership in a national press conference at the International Coral Reef Symposium. The report utilizes the results of coral reef monitoring programs and the contributions of over 270 coral reef scientists and managers to assess the condition of the nation’s coral reefs and associated ecosystems, nearly half of which are now considered to be in “poor” or “fair” condition. This version included more extensive human dimensions information than previous versions. This report and other coral mapping, monitoring and assessment products generated by CCMA are essential components of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) portfolio and are frequently used to communicate information on the status of coral reefs and NOAA's efforts to conserve them to the scientific and management communities, to Congressional members, and to the public. The report release was accompanied by a NOAA press release and extensive follow-up coverage in newsprint, live and orchestrated television interviews and web media. NCCOS Strategic Objective – Integrated Assessment, Human Dimensions. Third Quarter NCCOS Implementation Plan Milestone (this report is considered to be an “NCCOS Flagship Product” and is widely considered to be the best example of an Integrated Assessment in NOAA).
Completed two major NOAA Tech Memos to support Marine Protected Area assessments. Both reports directly supported the NCCOS-NMSP long-term agreement at four National Marine Sanctuaries
The sites studies were: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS), Monterey Bay NMS, Cordell Bank NMS, Gulf of Farallones NMS, and the Grays reef NMS. The Grays Reef study provided the Sanctuary options for a research area only zone within the Sanctuary and is currently being evaluated via a public scoping process. The work in the mid California NMS has been used by the NMSP to address issues raised by co-management of adjoining NMS boundaries and the California Marine Life Protection Act in defining and evaluating state MPA boundaries. NCCOS Strategic Objective – Integrated Assessment.
Led a research cruise on the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster to assess the mid level reefs off of Puerto Rico. Partners included, the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council, NGS, Puerto Rico DNR, and NMFS
This work transfers remote sensing capability from shallow water coral mapping to moderate depths using multibeam sonar and ROVs to map benthic habitats. This work is acknowledged as “true” implementation of Integrated Ocean Mapping (IOM) technologies to support multiple management and science-based remote sensing requirements. As a result of this work, CCMA represents the NOAA Coral Program in all NOAA CRCP IOM meetings and actions. This has resulted in over $225K of FY08 funds from CRCP to support IOM studies.
Completed First Ever Benthic Habitat Maps for the Trust Territory of Palau
Digital maps of Palau’s seafloor and coral reef habitats recently completed by the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment researchers will serve as a key piece in establishing a biological monitoring program in Palau. This product will support Palau in meeting the goals of the Micronesian Challenge. In addition, the data and maps will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of local marine conservation areas and will identify new areas for protection. The maps and geospatial data were developed in cooperation with NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Republic of Palau, and are the result of the first comprehensive assessment of the extent and types of Palau’s coral reefs. The study reveals that live coral covers approximately 35 percent of Palau’s shallow-water sea floor, a high percentage relative to other areas that NOAA has mapped. This effort supports the charge to NOAA by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to map all coral reef ecosystems of the U.S. and Pacific Freely Associated States.
Discovered and publicized first occurrence of the invasive species Lionfish at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Partnered with CCFHR to provide outreach materials (and recipes) to resource managers and diveshops in the US Virgin Islands as an early warning of the potential spread of this voracious invader.
COAST Team
Successfully completed the first ever historical review and analysis of the NS&T Mussel Watch Program’s contaminant monitoring data, “An Assessment of Two Decades of Contaminant Monitoring in the Nation’s Coastal Zone”
The report represents the first ever national summary of NOAA’s National Status & Trends Mussel Watch Program data, bringing together over twenty years of contaminant observations, highlighting significant improvements to coastal condition and bringing attention to new and emerging contaminants of concern. The report was written for use by resource managers, policy makers, legislators and concerned citizens, and compares the status and trends of chemical concentrations at the national level to those found locally or regionally. The report release was accompanied by a NOAA press release and extensive follow-up coverage in newsprint, television and web media. NCCOS Strategic Objective – Integrated Assessment. Third Quarter NCCOS Implementation Plan Milestone.
Completed the first ever national assessment of an emerging contaminant of concern. The report “Flame retardant, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in sediment and Bivalves of the US Coastal Zone”
Results of this report triggered a regional PBDE assessment by NCCOS partner Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP). Report release is being coordinated closely with NOS senior leadership and Congressional briefings are planned for early FY2009. NCCOS Strategic Objective – Integrated Assessment. Forth Quarter NCCOS Implementation Plan Milestone.
Partnered with the CRCP, NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserves, the US Department of Agriculture, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to implement an assessment of water and sediment contamination in and around Jobos Bay, PR to minimize the impacts of agricultural practices on coral reef ecosystems
This is the first joint USDA and NOAA project derived via USCRTF discussions among the two agencies. The scientific results of this project will aid USDA in determining the success of failure of conservation practices to minimize pollutant run-off to the Jobos Bay NEER receiving waters. These results will be provided to the Puerto Rico Land Authority to determine if changes in land use management and agricultural practices should occur within the Jobos Bay drainage area. Additionally, VADM Lautenbacher has referred to this effort in a national speech as “a model NOAA partnership”. NCCOS Strategic Objective – Integrated Assessment.
Successfully implemented a major new partnership with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)
This partnership is a high priority effort for the NCCOS Director. Two primary success stories for FY 2008 include: (1) CCMA, SCCWRP, Korean scientists (hosted by CCMA) and USGS successfully contributed to a major regional assessment of the Southern California Bight by collecting sediments for analysis of human use pharmaceutical contamination in the region. Data are now being analyzed but the anticipated result will be the first assessment of pharmaceutical contamination in California coastal waters. (2) CCMA in partnership with CHHR successfully contributed to the first assessment of PBDE contamination of Southern California Bight. NCCOS Strategic Objective – Integrated Assessment.
Lead two key partnerships with Native Alaskans
CCMA scientists, in collaboration with the Alutiiq Pride hatchery in Seward, AK, have begun a contaminant study, using locally consumed mussels and clams to allow scientists and resource managers to extrapolate Mussel Watch Program monitoring results to other subsistence shellfish species in the region. (2) As a result of an ongoing relationship between CCMA, the Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC), and the Bristol Bay Native Association (BBNA) CCMA scientists provided contaminant monitoring training to students, resource managers, and concerned citizens. Investigator: NCCOS Strategic Objectives – Integrated Assessment, Human Dimensions.
Lead two key partnerships with Native Alaskans
CCMA scientists, in collaboration with the Alutiiq Pride hatchery in Seward, AK, have begun a contaminant study, using locally consumed mussels and clams to allow scientists and resource managers to extrapolate Mussel Watch Program monitoring results to other subsistence shellfish species in the region. (2) As a result of an ongoing relationship between CCMA, the Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC), and the Bristol Bay Native Association (BBNA) CCMA scientists provided contaminant monitoring training to students, resource managers, and concerned citizens. Investigator: NCCOS Strategic Objectives – Integrated Assessment, Human Dimensions.
Field Missions
CCMA Completes more than 1500 Safe Dives
Caribbean: ~ 1350
Hawaii: ~140
Proficiency: ~60