Ron Hill (NMFS SEFSC) and Andy Bruckner (NMFS OHC)

This project is part of a coordinated suite of monitoring and research projects examining the health and productivity of coral reef ecosystems in western Puerto Rico. This particular component, formerly entitled Recovery of reef fish assemblages at the Fortuna Reefer grounding site at Mona Island, Puerto Rico is monitoring the success of the NOAA-led coral reef restoration that followed the 1997 grounding of the M/V Fortuna Reefer on Mona Island using corals and fish as indicators of habitat function and quality. A companion project, Prevalence and impact of coral disease in remote locations, is comparing the occurrence of coral disease (and fate of diseased corals) and fish assemblages on reef sites around Mona, Desecheo and La Parguera – comparing across the gradient of anthropogenic effects from mainland Puerto Rico to nearby Desecheo Island to isolated Mona Island. In addition to learning about coral diseases, concurrent monitoring of reef ecology and health, keying on coral disease occurrence and outcome/recovery, allows us to look at the influence of habitat change and coral disease on reef fish assemblages. A recent project addition is examining the growth dynamics and habitat value of Acropora cervicornis with study sites at Mona Island and La Parguera in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas and St. John in the US Virgin Islands. These coordinated projects are collaborative between the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation (Ecosystem Assessment Division), the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez and SEFSC-Galveston. The field logistics are designed to work with and train graduate students in ecological sampling of corals and reef fishes and support MS and PhD students at UPR.

The Fortuna Reefer restoration monitoring project is focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the biological restoration of elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, following a major ship grounding on Mona Island. Acropora palmata has suffered catastrophic declines throughout the Caribbean along with other corals in the genus Acropora (i.e., Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral) and Acropora prolifera (fused staghorn coral); and, consequently, they have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The ship grounding and removal activities impacted more than 6.8 acres (27,518.6 m2) much of it covered with dense thickets of Acropora palmata. During the restoration, more than 1800 coral fragments were stabilized using stainless steel nails (drilled and driven into the substrate) and wire. Unfortunately under the regulations that govern settlements in these types of cases, little money is available for monitoring beyond the first few months. This project has been somewhat unique in the realm of restoration monitoring in that with support from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program we have accumulated data and documented changes for almost 10 years.

Findings from the project are being shared and discussed with other researchers at the SEFSC working on similar projects in the Florida Keys. Recommendations on restoration techniques have been shared with the NOS Damage Assessment Center as well as the NMFS Restoration Center. The project contributes to PR Dept. of Natural and Environmental Resources’ efforts to evaluate conditions at Mona Island (a Puerto Rican Natural Reserve) and develop a management plan for it and other reserves or sanctuaries. It provides information of the status of the fishery stocks in western PR as well as location information useful in evaluating Essential Fish Habitat Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, (EFH HAPCs) for the Caribbean Fishery Management Council.

Publications and Reports:

• Cruise Report 2006 (includes Work Plan for 2007)