Trends in Coral Resource Condition and Threat Level
Since there are no standardized monitoring programs, methods, or data sets that can be used to compare the state of coral reef ecosystems across all 15 U.S. coral jurisdictions, interested parties have had to rely on the knowledge and expert opinion of coastal managers and scientists who are responsible for monitoring and managing coral reef ecosystems within each jurisdiction.
In recent years, NOAA's Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment has collected this expert knowledge using the same, multiple-choice surveys across all U.S. coral jurisdictions. The results of these surveys represent data that can be used to compare coral resource conditions and trends across jurisdictions. The results of these surveys are subject to biases of the respondents, however they represent the best available information until standard monitoring protocols can be implemented in all jurisdictions.
Overall trends from these surveys indicate that coral resource condition is declining and threats are increasing (see Table). Over the past 10 to 25 years, more than two-thirds of U.S. coral jurisdictions reported increasing threats from climate change and coral bleaching, coral disease, tourism and recreation, subsistence and recreational fishing, and marine debris (Waddell and Clarke, 2008).
| Resource | Overal Condition |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | Decreasing |
| Living Coral Cover | Decreasing |
| Reef Fish Populations | Decreasing |
| Harvested Reef Fish & Macroinvertebrates | Decreasing |
| Threat | Overal Condition |
|---|---|
| Climate Change and Coral Bleaching | Increasing |
| Tropical Storms | Increasing |
| Coastal Development | Increasing |
| Tourism & Recreation | Increasing |
| Commercial Fishing | Same |
| Subsistence & Recreation Fishing | Increasing |
| Vessel Damage | Increasing |
| Marine Debris | Increasing |
| Aquatic Invasive Species | Increasing |
Tables - Overall trends in coral ecosystem resources (left) and threats (right). Adapted from Waddell and Clarke, 2008.
Recreational boaters in Palominos in La Cordillera Reefs Natural Reserve. Credit: Hector Horta-Abraham, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
For more information:
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008
Closer Look
Relevant Links
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008 (Waddell and Clarke, 2008)
http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/coral2008/
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/
The Economics of Worldwide Coral Reef Degradation
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cesardegradationreport100203.pdf
