The purpose of this project is to collect available information on the characteristics of essential fish habitat in protected and non-protected marine areas around the islands of Puerto Rico. Specifically, this project will compile historical information on benthic habitats and the status of marine resources into a Geographic Information System (GIS). The information obtained will help to characterize and select habitats for future monitoring of impacts of non-fishing activities and to develop management recommendations for conservation of important marine habitats. The project will focus specifically on areas identified as priorities for conservation by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and the Local Action Strategy Overfishing Group. Project objectives are as follows:
Non-fishing activities often result in negative impacts to the coral reef ecosystem, including associated fishing resources, around Puerto Rico, in particular due to the loss of benthic habitat. are Some of the non-fishing activities that have been identified as impacting the coral reef ecosystem are as follows: recreational activities that result in trampling of seagrasses and corals; cutting of mangrove roots and branches to create areas of shade or tie up boats; coastal development that results in erosion and sediment transport to the sea; clearing of mangroves, seagrasses, and other wetlands, and water quality changes; as well as boat groundings. As part of Goal Number 4 of the Local Action Strategy Plan, Overfishing Theme, the Puerto Rico government, through the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, is working to reduce the negative impacts of non-fishing activities to the coral reef ecosystem, including associated fishery resources.
This project is being initiated as part of the Southeast Regional Office’s participation in the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) and to fulfill the Coral Reef Task Force’s mandate to “preserve and protect the biodiversity, health, heritage, and social and economic value of U.S. coral reef ecosystems and marine environment,” as stipulated in 1998 by Executive Order #13089.
The work proposed in this project will be completed in three distinct phases. The first phase will involve meetings with staff from the collaborating agencies (NOAA’s Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, NOAA’s NMFS Caribbean field Station, Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council). These initial meetings will determine the number and types of existing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) paper maps to be digitized; identify priority areas for which historical information will be compiled; and, determine the extent (in terms of years and location) of historical information to be compiled for priority and non-priority areas around Puerto Rico.
The second phase of the project will be the actual digitizing of the existing (historical) paper maps of EFH areas around Puerto Rico and its dependencies. Specific details on the outcomes of this phase will be determined after the completion of Phase 1, but it is expected that a GIS of EFH and MPAs around Puerto Rico will be produced.
The third phase will be the development of a final report that describes the project and its outcomes.
Current/Completed
Future ((if applicable)
