NOAA Habitat Blueprint and Cays Vulnerability Assessment Project Dr. Lisamarie Carrubba Protected Resources Division, Caribbean Field Office

2 NMFS, Protected Resources Division Threatened and Endangered Species Listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act E. Otero 5 reptiles (sea turtles in the water) and designated CH for greens and hawksbills in Puerto Rico 5 mammals (whales) 7 corals and designated CH for 2 L. Crespo M. Guiliano J. Torres C. Pacheco

3 Green Sea Turtle Designated Critical Habitat Green sea turtle: 3 nm around Culebra and its surrounding islands and cays (NMFS)

4 Elkhorn and Staghorn Coral Listed as Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act May 2006,Take Prohibition November 2008, Critical Habitat December 2008, Threatened Listing Maintained September 2014

5 Atlantic Acroporid Coral Designated Critical Habitat Areas in waters up to 30m deep with hard substrate, including dead coral skeletons, that is free of sediment and macroalgal cover

6 Corals Recently Listed as Threatened Pillar coral Dendrogyra cylindrus Lobed star coralOrbicella annularis Mountainous star coral Orbicella faveolata Boulder star coralOrbicella franksi Rough cactus coralMycetophyllia ferox Proposed listing rule published December 7, 2012; final rule published August 2014 and effective September 10, 2014.

7 Mechanical Impacts Anchoring in coral and seagrass Propeller scars, propeller wash, blow outs in seagrass Improperly installed moorings Dock construction and operation, including shading Diving and snorkeling

8 Fishery Species Proposed for Listing as Threatened: Nassau GrouperEpinephelus striatus Proposed listing rule published September 2, 2014 Species under CFMC Fishery Management Plans: Queen conch, Snapper/Grouper complex, Spiny lobster, Parrotfish

9 NOAA Habitat Blueprint Developed by NOAA to build on existing programs, prioritize activities, and guide future actions Provides a forward-looking framework for NOAA to think and act strategically across programs and with partners Addresses growing challenge of coastal and marine habitat loss and degradation Expected Outcomes: Sustainable and abundant fish populations Recovered threatened and endangered species Protected coastal and marine areas and habitats at risk Resilient coastal communities Increased coastal/marine tourism, access, and recreation

10 NOAA Habitat Blueprint Regional initiatives and Habitat Focus Areas are meant to focus resources and bring greater habitat conservation efforts to priority areas Northeast Reserves and Culebra have been selected as a Habitat Focus Area Site encompasses watersheds of the Northeast Ecological Corridor and its related marine areas and Culebra Island and its surrounding coral reefs Partners: DNER, Sea Grant, CFMC, CariCOOS

11 NOAA Habitat Blueprint Northeast Reserves and Culebra Habitat Focus Area 3-5 Year Objectives Protect and enhance coral reef ecosystems and nearshore habitat Protect biodiversity Improve water and wetland quality Strengthen collaboration and partnerships Increase sustainable tourism and economy Involve community in conservation Long-term Objectives Resilient coastal communities; sustainable and abundant fish populations; recovered ESA-listed species; protected coastal and marine areas; increased tourism, access, and recreation

12 NOAA Partners for Cays Project NCCOS: On-going mapping and habitat characterization projects in Northeast Reserves Oceanographic data collection for Northeast Reserves Vulnerability assessment tools, including models Socioeconomic surveys for Northeast Reserves and Culebra SEFSC Heat-budget model (potential) Reef bioerosion model (potential)

13 Questions? Photos from Nova Southeastern University, National Coral Reef Institute