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NOAA Expands Protection Of Threatened Reefs

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2008

TAMPA - Environmental regulators have expanded federal protections for two types of coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean threatened with extinction.

The new regulations will prohibit all commercial activities involving elkhorn and staghorn corals, including collection for import or export. They also will ban anchoring or dragging gear on the reefs and discharging pollutants or contaminants that harm the species.

Roy Crabtree, NOAA's Fisheries Service's southeast regional administrator, said the rules will strengthen efforts to recover the corals by addressing human threats.

"These corals were once the major reef builders in Florida and the Caribbean, but now more than 90 percent of their populations are lost," he said. "That not only threatens their survival — it affects the entire ecosystem."

The new regulations will not prohibit scientific research and or restoration activities carried out or permitted by authorized state and federal environmental agencies.

Elkhorn and staghorn corals have been the primary reef-building corals throughout Florida and the Caribbean for nearly half a million years. Decimated by global climate change and human activities, the delicate species have suffered significant losses.

Both corals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in May 2006.

The new regulations take effect on Nov. 21.

For information, go to http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/esa/acropora.htm

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679.

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