Report: Climate change key for NMI coral reefs

Climate change is a key health concern for the Commonwealth’s coral reefs, according to a just-issued federal report that says most of the nation’s reefs are threatened by a host of manmade problems.

The report, released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, reveals the Commonwealth’s efforts to monitor and assess the condition of coral reefs “made remarkable strides” in recent years yet concerns that climate changes will harm coral ecosystems have also “heightened.”

Among the climate-related factors that could affect local corals, the report says, is coral bleaching, a loss of pigment caused when higher than normal ocean temperatures or other stressors force coral to expel the algae that give it color. When this occurs, many corals begin to starve and can often die if the stress continues.

The NOAA report notes that fears linked to coral bleaching have increased in the Commonwealth since 2001, when a significant bleaching event occurred in the southern islands. In response, NOAA has recently made gathering data on temperature shifts in local waters a priority, the report says.

A new climate threat recently added to NOAA’s list of condition requiring attention for the Commonwealth’s corals, the report adds, is ocean acidification. When the ocean absorbs airborne carbon dioxide, its pH level can change, making the water too acidic for some species, including coral, the report says.

Land-based pollution, such as sewage, beach erosion, coastal development and overfishing also are to blame.

Nationwide, the report listed half of America’s coral reefs in “poor” to “fair” condition. “NOAA’s coral reef program has made some significant progress since it was established 10 years ago but we need to redouble our efforts to protect this critical resource,” said NOAA administrator Conrad Lautenbacher Jr. in a statement.

Meanwhile, the CNMI Coastal Resources Management Office put out a request for proposals today seeking help in crafting a needs assessment on how the Commonwealth uses its beaches and the Saipan lagoon.

CRM natural resources planner Kathy Yuknavage said the assessment would help the office with future policy decisions such as what activities government officials should authorize.