Final Environmental Assessment and FONSI for the Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program
Appendix A: Examples of Specific Grants Funded under the categories of the Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program
| Project Title | Federal Funding | Description of Activities |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem Research Grants | ||
| Three New Tools for Reef Monitoring and Risk Assessment: Distinguishing Local from Global Stress (2003) | $52,874 | This project evaluates the factors responsible for coral decline and the ecological parameters that affect the recovery of benthic communities by developing three tools to assess reef condition and providing training to resource managers. |
| Recruitment of Montastrea annualris (Mountain star coral). Where are all the Larvae Going? (2003) | $94,015 | This project addresses factors affecting recruitment and survival of Montastrea annualris using novel techniques: antibody tracking of potential recruits coupled with passive particle tracking. The overarching question being addressed is: where do all the large batches of Montastrea annualris larvae spawned each year go? |
| State and Territory Coral Reef Management Grants | ||
| Hawaii Coral Reef Management (2002) | $360,000 | Funding supports a number of project tasks such as:
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| Florida Coral Reef Management (2003) | $325,000 | Funding supports two overall project tasks:- Mapping coral reefs and other benthic habitats found off the coast of Palm Beach County using high-resolution, shipborn acoustic bottom classification.- Development by an interagency group of three-year local action strategies, which attempt to address major threats to coral reef ecosystems in Southeast Florida. The suite of strategies will use knowledge-based, consensus-building, integrated, and continuous management with frequent public review. |
| International Coral Reef Conservation | ||
| Evaluating Management Effectiveness of two Indonesian MPA’s: Incorporating Science and Participation (2002) | $32,000 | This project is a pilot test of the recently developed World Commission on Protected Area management effectiveness guidelines and indicators at two Indonesian sites; Bunaken National Park in North Sulawesi and Sebesi Island Marine Sanctuary in South Sumatra. The roles and limitations of scientific and participatory processes in the design and implementation of MPA management will be investigated evaluations and the existing tools for measuring management effectiveness of MPAs will be improved by developing some guidelines for how to incorporate both science and participation into management evaluations. |
| Promoting Watershed Management in the Wider Caribbean (2003) | $70,000 | The Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA) is managed by the Soufriere Marine Management Association and was established to secure the sustainable use of various resources. This project will seek to establish a permanent interagency structure linked to the SMMA with the prime purpose of securing the necessary interventions in the Soufriere watershed. The aim will be to reduce the harmful inputs into the Soufriere Bay using the same community-focused and partnership approach that was adopted by the SMMA. The project will seek to employ environmentally sound resource-use practices supported by a comprehensive public awareness and sensitization campaign. |
| Reef Check Community-based Biophysical and Socio-economic Monitoring in East Africa (2002) | $24,200 | Reef Check Foundation-Europe is establishing a Reef Check coral reef monitoring team in Kenya and strengthening the existing team in Tanzania by training and certifying Reef Check trainers who will continue coral reef monitoring activities with new volunteers in their respective areas. The teams are conducting 20 reef surveys during the project year and will submit the final data to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Results will also be disseminated to local and regional managers. |
| Projects to Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans | ||
| Management of Fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico (2002) | $250,000 | The Council is characterizing the habitat of Pulley’s Ridge and the Florida Middle Grounds through mapping, aerial photography and video and still images of resident communities, and is completing multi-beam surveys of the Madison-Swanson marine protected area and the adjacent Twin Ridges Contract Area. Within Pulley’s Ridge, most of the effort involves development of baseline information on the extent of particular habitat types and community composition, while the Middle Grounds efforts are focused on monitoring and assessment to evaluate change in the area over the last 25 years. |
| Assessment and Management of Western Pacific Coral Reef Ecosystem Resources and Habitat (2003) | $750,000 | This project is supporting staff, travel and workshop activities needed to assist in gathering critical information in order to facilitate coral reef ecosystem resource management decisions, improve coral reef protection and maintain healthy ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. Specific components include continued mapping of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and assessment, characterization and mapping of important bottomfish habitat in the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve, a study on Hawaii’s lobster resources - their cultural significance, biology and life history information, tracking home range sizes of three commercially important fish species in the Managaha Reserve within Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islnads, investigation of the diets of taape and some important native fishery species to quantify the level of interactions between native and introduced species, and an evaluation of the use of bait stations as a tool to monitor abundance and size frequency of nearshore and deep-water coral reef ecosystem fish species. |
| State and Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring | ||
| American Samoa Coral Reef Monitoring Program (2002) | $100,000 | American Samoa’s DMWR supports a series of projects recommended by the local Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG). Based on an analysis of data collected during FY2000 and FY2001, the advisory group decided the following six activities represented American Samoa’s priorities toward coral ecosystem management, and should be considered for funding under the Coral Reef Conservaiton Program: 1) Continued support to assess population dynamics and fishery characteristics for lobsters; 2) A comprehensive macro-algal survey and inventory for the Islands of Manua and Tutuila; 3) A survey of introduced species along the coast of Tutuila; 4) Continued support for local “Reef Check” community monitoring activities; 5) Hiring of a biometrician to analyze the volumes of data being collected under this and other programs; and 6) Mapping benthic habitats using aerial photography and satellite imagery as a spatial framework for future coral reef conservation. |
| Monitoring and Assessment of Coral Reef Ecosystems in the U.S. Virgin Islands (2003) | $131,500 | This project provides continued support for monitoring sites throughout the USVI using the monitoring protocols established under the FY2002 grant. To improve implementation of the newly established St. Croix East End Marine Park, efforts also will be put into additional assessment of the park resources and toward the development of a Marine Park Monitoring Plan. |
| General Coral Reef Conservation | ||
| Wise Management and Sustainable Use of the Hawaii Aquarium Fishery through Marine Aquarium Council Certification for Reef management and Best Practices (2003) | $35,000 | The project will work with marine aquarium trade stakeholders in Hawaii, especially the industry, to promote the wise management and sustainable use of coral reef resources. Specific elements include: 1) building awareness of management alternatives for a sustainable marine aquarium trade in Hawaii through multi-stakeholder consultations and outreach; 2) developing management plans for reef areas subject to marine ornamentals collection though stakeholder participation; and 3) facilitating marine aquarium fish collectors and companies to understand and achieve Marine Aquarium Council Certification for "best practices." |
| Transforming the Live Reef Fish Food Trade towards Sustainability in the Republic of the Marshall Islands through Community-based Coral Reef Conservation and Fisheries Management (2002) | $50,000 | International Marinelife Alliance is working in partnership with government agencies, the College of the Marshall Islands, and local communities to ensure that the growing live reef food fish trade is managed sustainably. The initial work will involve an assessment of the grouper and Napoleon Wrasse fishery and of coral reefs and biological resources in the remote northern atolls of the Marshall Islands; community meetings to improve awareness of the fishery; and the building of capacity to manage the Live Reef Fish Food Trade in a sustainable manner. |
| Comparative Investigations of Red Hind (Epinephalus guttatus) Spawning Aggregations Under Different Management Strategies: fully protected marine reserves in the U.S. Virgin Islands and seasonal closures in the British Virgin Islands (2003) | $70,000 | The project will focus on a collaborative effort between the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to collect and assimilate biological data on a critical habitat in the BVI with the creation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in mind. One component will focus on a scientific investigation of a large traditional red hind grouper (Epinephalus guttatus) spawning aggregation site in the British Virgin Islands. The spatial area of the aggregation site will be determined as well as the density of spawners, sex ratio, size frequency, habitat type, benthic complexity, and fish community structure. In addition, a tag and release program will be implemented. Data from the Anegada site will be compared to that from the marine conservation district and the use of MPA's as a management technique will be assessed for the sustainability of a fisheries resource. |
| Coral Culture for Reef Restoration and Coral Research | $43,513 | This project is establishing clonal lines of four key coral species, Acropora cervicornis, Montastraea faveolata, Porites astreoides and Gorgonia ventalina for use in coral research and restoration activities. Coral fragments and small colonies generated by vessel groundings are being collected from throughout the Florida Keys (as well as larvae from parent colonies of Porites astreoides already in culture) and are being propagated at Mote Marine Laboratories Center for Tropical research. Research efforts include quantification of growth rates of the explants, development of standardized clonal lines, and identification of disease resistant strains. |
