NMI reefs ‘reasonably healthy’

Coral reef ecosystems in the CNMI are, on the whole, reasonably healthy but those in the Northern Islands and more distant banks and reefs appear to be in better condition than those closer to population centers such as Saipan, according to a report released Friday by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

The report, called The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005, also said that effects brought by the presence of large populations, such as nonpoint source pollution and fishing pressure, have affected coral reefs around Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

“While these stressors are actively being managed by local government agencies, some solutions, such as the replacement of sewer infrastructure, exceed locally available funding,” the report said.

One piece of good news, though: As a whole, CNMI’s marine waters meet the high water quality standards designated by the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality, the report said.

“The majority of CNMI’s marine waters are designated ‘Class AA’ which reflects the highest water quality. Five areas in the CNMI have been designated ‘Class A’ to allow for industrial activities.

“The beach warnings posted by the DEQ are, perhaps, one of the most constant reminders of the direct effects of human actions on marine water quality through nonpoint source pollution,” it said.

Natural stressors that have been identified, particularly on Saipan’s western and southeastern reefs, were continuing sediment and nutrient pollution combined with sporadic stressors such as outbreaks of crown-of–thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) and temperature-induced bleaching. Typhoons and the eruption on Anatahan has also had an impact on the state of the coral reefs.

The report pointed out, though, that coral reef ecosystems in the CNMI cannot be realistically treated as a single entity since the geology, oceanography, ecological history, and human activities vary widely across the 14 islands and associated reef shoals and banks.

Though local managers are now taking steps to protect the CNMI’s reef ecosystems, the report said that, without a thorough understanding of the actual condition and ecological trends on local coral reefs, CNMI managers are forced to follow precautionary measures, rather than base their decisions on locally reliable data. It is, therefore, imperative to support and expand monitoring programs that provide information to managers that will help them address both natural and human-caused sources of coral reef degradation.

“Understanding of [CNMI] coral reefs is far from complete. Long-term monitoring of fisheries, water quality, and other ecological parameters will be necessary to support management efforts,” part of the report said.

Through an extensive process of stakeholder meetings, the CNMI has developed local action strategies that identify those areas of greatest concern for the continued effective management of local coral reefs. These strategies provide a blueprint for how the CNMI hopes to address the identified top areas of concern: nonpoint source pollution, fishing pressure, and improvement of reef-related education and outreach.

The report’s other key findings include:

* The effects of U.S. military bombings on Farallon de Mendinilla are causing accelerated erosion of the landmass.

* Ash fallout from the 2003 eruption of the Anatahan volcano caused extensive damage to the island’s nearshore reef habitats, especially on the northern side.

* Results from the 2003 and 2004 NOAA surveys show that Maug, with 73 species recorded, is the most coral rich island in the northern islands.

* Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas) was found to have the highest density of large predatory fish in the northern islands.

* CNMI’s three major inhabited islands have unpaved secondary roads that funnel soil and sediment into nearshore waters during periods of heavy rain, thereby increasing turbidity of nearshore waters.

* On several of the northern islands, deforestation and overgrazing has led to increased nearshore sedimentation.

* Deforestation from illegal burning has created an area of eroding badlands on the southern coast of Rota.

The report indicated that management actions in the CNMI are moving in the right direction. Together with NOAA and federal, state, territory and local partners have begun to implement “local action strategies” to reduce key threats to reefs.

“Healthy shallow coral reef ecosystems are a key factor for robust marine ecosystems and the economic well-being of many coastal communities,” said retired undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D.

He said the report demonstrated the value of integrating monitoring efforts from local to regional and global scales and highlights the need to develop an integrated global earth observing system that would provide coastal managers the best possible information for ensuring the health of the world’s coral reefs and other ocean ecosystems.”

The recent expansion of coral reef assessment, mapping, and monitoring in the CNMI is, in part, driven by funding from the U.S. Coral Reef Initiative to provide important baseline data. The U.S. Coral Reef Initiative, through NOAA, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and other organizations, provides support to build local capacity to effectively manage coral reef ecosystems in the CNMI.

The complete report included findings, recommendations, and coral reef conditions on U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Navassa, Florida, Flower Garden Banks, Main Hawaiian Islands, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, Pacific Remote Island Areas, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam and Palau.

The report on the CNMI—The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands—was edited by John Starmer, with contributors Clarissa Bearden, Russell Brainard, Tina de Cruz, Ronald Hoeke, Peter Houk, Stephani Holzwarth, Steve Kolinski, Joyce Miller, Robert Schroeder, John Starmer, Molly Timmers, Michael Trianni, and Peter Vroom.

The report marked the first attempt to bring together quantitative results of monitoring data and information collected by federal, state, territory, commonwealth, non-governmental, private and academic partners to provide an overall status report on the condition of U.S. coral reef ecosystems.

The NOAA Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, in partnership with the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, coordinated the 522-page report.

NOAA said the report will fulfill a goal of the U.S. National Coral Reef Action Strategy and will be highlighted at the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in early November in the Republic of Palau.

For complete details on the report, go to NOAA website with address http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2490.htm.