Sister Sanctuaries: Linking the Science and Management of Coral Reefs in Cuba and the U.S.

Transcription

1 Sister Sanctuaries: Linking the Science and Management of Coral Reefs in Cuba and the U.S. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Conservation and Management of Marine Protected Areas Seventh Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) to the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider Caribbean Region November 2-4, 2016 Miami, Florida Billy D. Causey, Ph.D. Southeast Regional Director National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Region

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3 Tri-National Initiative on Marine Science Conservation November 2007 Cancun March 2009 Veracruz October 2009 Havana September 2010 Sarasota October 2012 Havana November Corpus Christi November 2015 Havana

4 Cuba-Mexico-US Tri-National Meetings Opportunities to Collaborate

5 Why Cuba? Shared resources and common challenges

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7 Caribbean Connectivity Current Drifters ( ) Credit: Kevin Leaman (UM/RSMAS) Drifter

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9 Stellwagen Bank Monitor Gray s Reef Sargasso Sea Flower Garden Banks Florida Keys Whale Shark BR Silver Banks Spiny Lobster??

10 Why Cuba? Crown Jewel of the Caribbean Photo Courtesy: Abel Valdivia

11 MPAs in Cuba

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14 Cuba & US Delegations July 12-15, 2015 Meeting Guanahacabibes National Park Pinar del Rio, Cuba

15 Our Oceans Conference, October 2015, Valparaiso, Chile US Secretary of State John Kerry Announces US Cuba Sister Sanctuary Cooperation

16 November 18, 2015 Signing of MOU Between Cuba and the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs Havana, Cuba

17 Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Conservation and Management of Marine Protected Areas Establishes a cooperative relationship to facilitate joint efforts concerning the science, stewardship, and management of MPAs Directs the establishment of sister MPA relationships to better understand and conserve the interconnected ecosystems and address shared conservation challenges Exchange of information, best practices and experiences regarding MPAs Develop common guidelines and methodologies for natural and cultural resource protection within MPAs Develop complementary activities related to: Research and monitoring Outreach and education Enforcement methods Performance assessments Community involvement Joint publications on collaborative research and management

18 (FKNMS, DTNP, BNP)

19 Guanahacabibes Guana ah ka bee bes

20 Management Program Administration (people & infrastructure) Enforcement and surveillance Conservation of Natural Resources Environmental education and conservation Recreation and ecotourism Research and monitoring

21 Elemento Natural Destacado BANCO DE SAN ANTONIO

22 Banco de San Antonio Flower Garden Banks

23 RESEARCH PRIORITIES Corals Recruitment Coral growth / Paleoclimatology Bleaching Spawning Genetics Black Coral community assessment Fish Spawning aggregations Evaluation of fisheries Recruitment Genetics Connectivity Lionfish

24 NEEDS 1. Characterization of habitats High-resolution multibeam bathymetry. Habitat mapping (biology and geology). Species identification and abundance estimates. Development of interactive maps based on GIS. ROV for imaging and geo-referenced videos. 2. Surveys to establish a baseline for monitoring programs related to: Species inventories Deep water reef communities Status of reef health indicators from benthic and nekton. Damage caused by natural phenomena and Climate Change. Impact of ocean currents Ocean acidification Shark populations

25 Lionfish Response Plan Monitoring Control Research Education and Outreach

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28 Florida Keys: 7.5 Million Visitor Days in Marine Recreation

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