A National Status Report on United States Coral Reefs Based on 2012–2018 Data From National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.812216
• Publication Date: 2022-02-03T07:37:10Z
• Authors: Erica K. Towle; E. Caroline Donovan; Heath Kelsey; Mary E. Allen; Hannah Barkley; Jeremiah Blondeau; Russell E. Brainard; Annie Carew; Courtney S. Couch; Maria K. Dillard; C. Mark Eakin; Kimberly Edwards; Peter E. T. Edwards; Ian C. Enochs; Chloe S. Fleming; Alexandra S. Fries; Erick F. Geiger; Laura Jay Grove; Sarah H. Groves; Matthew Gorstein; Adel Heenan; Matthew W. Johnson; Justine Kimball; Jennifer L. Koss; Tye Kindinger; Arielle Levine; Derek P. Manzello; Nathan Miller; Thomas Oliver; Jennifer C. Samson; Dione Swanson; Bernardo Vargas-Á...; T. Shay Viehman; Ivor D. Williams
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Science; Q; General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution; QH1-199.5; 15. Life on land; science communication; 16. Peace & justice; monitoring; 03 medical and health sciences; climate change; socioeconomics; 13. Climate action; fisheries; 14. Life underwater; coral reefs

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Conservation Program supports the Monitoring (NCRMP) in United States Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico. NCRMP conducts standardized observations biological, climatic, socioeconomic indicators across American Samoa, Guam, Main Hawaiian Islands, Northwestern Northern Mariana Pacific Remote Florida, Flower Garden Banks, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands. provides periodic, national-level assessments status coral reef ecosystems communities connected to them. In 2014, partnered with University Maryland Center for Environmental Science on an unprecedented collaboration between federal jurisdictional/state agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations synthesize data into a reporting format designed be accessible relevant public policy makers. The process involved multi-year analyses key benthic, fish, climate indicators. populated jurisdictions, were integrated assess support management actions, participation pro-environmental behaviors, awareness threats reefs. Jurisdictions scored using report-card scale (0–100%) by establishing references each indicator best-available historical or expert opinion where did not exist statistically comparable. Despite overall ecosystem scores Fair all combined Atlantic (70%) (74%) current trend is downward majority reefs declining vulnerable further degradation. Remote, uninhabited had advantage respect fish population scores, i.e., Banks (85%) Islands (93%), when compared location Rico (63%) (66%). All are highly impacted change, impacts more pronounced than expected remote reefs, (58%). Presenting results style facilitates communication makers, useful mechanism garner actions such as expanding protected areas; enforcing existing regulations; increasing change education; reducing land-based sources pollution; other improve trajectory conditions.