Bridging Science and Management in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument

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1 Bridging Science and Management in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Proposer Information Primary Authors: Erin O Reilly and Monique Schafer, MESM 2017 Co-Author: Shannon Boyle, MESM 2017 Client Information: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Honolulu, HI Dr. Rusty Brainard, Chief, Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP), Supervisory Oceanographer rusty.brainard@noaa.gov, Samantha Brooke, Pacific Islands Regional Office, Monuments Program Manager samantha.brooke@noaa.gov, L. Hokulani Ka aekuahiwi, Pacific Islands Regional Office, Monuments Program Policy Management Specialist, leila.rogers-kaaekuahiwi@noaa.gov, Project Objectives 1) Synthesize and interpret existing coral reef ecosystem data to develop maps for environmental and ecological conditions surrounding the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to better understand the potential threats affecting the seven reef ecosystems health on a spatial scale. 2) Develop selected sections of the Monument Management Plan, including portions of the Biological Environment section, which will include biological descriptions, analysis and description of key threats, and recommend proposed actions to address these threats. 3) Create outreach and communication materials to raise awareness among policy makers and the public about the importance of maintaining coastal and marine ecosystem health in the region. Project Significance The PRIMNM was first established in 2009 by presidential proclamation. In 2014, President Obama expanded the Monument to cover approximately 370,000 nautical miles, making it one of the largest Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in the world. MPAs have been a successful tool for improving habitat, increasing biodiversity, and fostering fish stocks that benefit nearby fisheries from the spillover effect (Edgar et al., 2007). PRIMNM contains the most widespread collection of marine species under a single country s jurisdiction, and the establishment of the MPA ensures the continued protection of critical marine biodiversity. The completion of a Monument Management Plan is a high priority for the Obama Administration; therefore, NOAA and its partnering agencies are attempting to make as much progress as possible on a draft Monument Management Plan before the end of his term. Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth and provide a multitude of goods and services such as seafood and medicinal products, shoreline protection, and maintenance of biodiversity. This protected area presents a significant opportunity to understand ecological responses to climate change and ocean acidification without the confounding influences of direct anthropogenic impacts, such as land-based sources of pollution and overfishing. Studies provide fundamental insights into conservation efforts (Friedlander et al,. 2010). NOAA will directly utilize the outcomes of this project in the development of a comprehensive Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Report for the Pacific Remote Islands being developed by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) to support management decisions for the PRIMNM by NOAA s Pacific Remote Islands Regional Office (PIRO) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These documents will be made available to the public upon completion. The information synthesized will provide a baseline for future planning and will encourage continued protection and support from the U.S. federal government. By developing a clear and accessible report and management plan, NOAA can better monitor and protect the region s biodiversity and preserve these coral reef ecosystems for future generations.

2 Project Background The PRIMNM encompasses seven equatorial and central Pacific coral reef ecosystems, including Palmyra, Kingman, Johnston and Wake Atolls, and Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands. The lack of extensive human development on these islands has allowed the coastal ecosystems to remain nearly pristine. The PRIMNM is home to a wide range of unique species that are depleted in other parts of the world, including deep-sea corals, five different sea turtle species, pearl oysters, giant clams, coconut crabs, large grouper, silky sharks, manta rays, humphead wrasse, and bumphead parrotfish (US Fish and Wildlife Service, n.d.; Howard, 2014). Threats to coral reefs have largely arisen from a changing ocean environment and PRIMNM ecosystems, while relatively undisturbed, are not immune to increasing water temperatures, coral disease, ocean acidification, overfishing, and marine debris (Cheung, 2009). Given these various threats, it is estimated that there has been a 19% overall loss in coral reefs worldwide and additional studies indicate that approximately 75% of coral reef fishes have declined as a result of decreasing coral abundance (Wilson et al., 2006; Wilkinson, 2008). Understanding where the various threats occur at a spatial level is the first step in understanding how to implement the best management strategies for biodiversity maintenance and reef preservation. As human development and accompanying anthropogenic impacts increase along coastal areas it is important that a comprehensive, quantitative, and spatial description of the coral reef communities is developed. Developing ecological baselines for the PRIMNM, which lacks the direct anthropogenic impacts seen on most other reef ecosystems, will aid in effective conservation and restoration program development for not only these island systems, but other coastal marine areas throughout world. This group project will provide valuable information to resource managers about the status of and potential threats to the abundant marine resources protected by the Monument. Similar monitoring reports have been developed for American Samoa and the Mariana Archipelago by NOAA s CREP (Brainard et al., 2012) and the past reports will serve as a guide to completing the PRIMNM monitoring report and management plan. Available Data NOAA s CREP has been collecting nearshore biological, physical, and chemical data every two years from and every three years from for the PRIMNM. However, these data have yet to be synthesized into a comprehensive coral reef ecosystem monitoring report, which is needed to support development of a Monument Management Plan. Scientific and spatial data available through the CREP include: high resolution benthic habitat maps; time series of abundance, distribution, diversity, size, biomass, and condition of corals, other invertebrates, algae, and microbes; and time series of in situ temperature (multiple depths), dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity, salinity, nutrients, and chlorophyll of the nearshore reefs and waters surrounding all seven atolls and islands of the PRIMNM. These reef ecosystems have similar habitats, however they are widely dispersed geographically and oceanographically. These comprehensive interdisciplinary datasets will be used to develop spatial maps and temporal plots of ecological and environmental indicators of ecosystem health and the key threats facing these relatively pristine reef ecosystems. The extensive data provided by the client will be sufficient to successfully complete all aspects of the proposed project. Possible Approaches We will spatially display the existing data in GIS to examine ecological patterns and temporal trends in the Monument following the general format provided in the monitoring report for the Mariana Archipelago (Brainard et. al., 2012). Analysis of these maps will establish a strong baseline for PRIMNM and provide information for future management decisions. The PIRO Marine National Monument Program is currently developing a prioritized list and preferred timeline of information products that CREP will use to guide the project team in providing support in the development of the Monument Management Plan. Key threats to the region will be identified and characterized through both map interpretation and literature review. Once identified, these key threats will shape the ensuing management

3 measures addressed in the Plan. The most obvious known threats of ocean warming and acidification, sea level rise, illegal fishing, and marine debris will be examined using CREP data and IPCC CMIP5 climate projections for the region. If there are any patterns of decline observed in the CREP data, they will be used to better characterize and prioritize threat reduction and mitigation measures addressed in the management plan. The resulting materials will aid the stakeholder organizations involved in continuous protection and preservation of the unique and important environment. In order to communicate our results to the general public, an Esri Story Map will be developed to provide an interactive, user-friendly, and immersive experience for people who would otherwise not be able to experience this remote, pristine region. Press releases and focus articles will be created to inform policymakers and the general public about specific aspects of the report that NOAA deems important. Bren students have the opportunity to merge science, management, and communication together to produce information in a form that is widely accessible. The project will help to further student collaboration with a well-known and respected government agency, while students gain valuable technical and communications skills. Ultimately, this project will generate valuable materials that will be directly applied to protect the marine environment and conservation of coral reef biodiversity for future generations. Deliverables The Bren students will complete a report containing:! Spatial maps and analyses depicting ecosystem characteristics such as fish abundance and species richness, coral health, and ocean/climate conditions of the Monument. The maps will provide a baseline for coral reef health in the region and will serve as an important tool to inform management about key threats in PRIMNM.! Write-up of the near-shore biology section for PRIMNM management plan. The document will include the monument setting, status and condition of natural resources, environmental and anthropogenic stressors, and global significance. This section will be a culmination of scientific literature, interpretation of the produced GIS maps, and possible management implications for each island.! Creation of an Esri Story Map to provide an accessible and immersive experience for the general public to learn more about the PRIMNM and its significance as the world s largest marine protected area. Additional communication materials will be produced such as press releases, focus articles, and blogs to inform policymakers and the general public about important aspects of the management plan. Internships NOAA has indicated that they have the space and facilities to host all of the group members as interns for the length of the summer at the Inouye Regional Center (IRC) in Honolulu, Hawai i. An internship will allow students to interact with both CREP scientists and Monument managers on a day-to-day basis, extending the project experience beyond the specific objectives defined here. CREP has indicated their desire to have individual interns assigned to their Benthic Ecology and Monitoring Team, Fish Ecology and Monitoring Team, Ocean and Climate Change Team, Ecospatial Information Team, where they will receive mentoring from experts in those respective disciplines. Honolulu will host the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium from June and the IUCN World Conservation Congress from September Both of these international conferences will provide great opportunities for students to participate as volunteers or attendees and learn about conservation science and management on an international level.

4 References Brainard R.E., Asher J., Blyth-Skyrme V., Coccagna E.F., Dennis K., Donovan M.K., Gove J.M., Kenyon J., Looney E.E., Miller J.E., Timmers M.A., Vargas-Angel B., Vroom P.S., Vetter O., Zgliczynski B., Acoba T., DesRochers A., Dunlap M.J., Franklin E.C., Fisher-Pool P.I., Braun C.L., Richards B.L., Schopmeyer S.A., Schroeder R.E., Toperoff A., Weijerman M., Williams I., Withall R.D. (2012). Coral reef ecosystem monitoring report of the Mariana Archipelago: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-12-01, 1019 p Cheung, W. W., Lam, V. W., Sarmiento, J. L., Kearney, K., Watson, R., & Pauly, D. (2009). Projecting global marine biodiversity impacts under climate change scenarios. Fish and Fisheries, 10(3), Edgar, G. J., Russ, G. R., & Babcock, R. C. (2007). Marine protected areas. Marine Ecology, (Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Expansion, Proclamation No. 9173, 79 Fed. Reg. 58,645 (Sept. 29, 2014). Friedlander, A.M., Sandin, S.A., DeMartini, E.E., Sala, E. (2010). Spatial patterns of the structure of reef fish assemblages at a pristine atoll in the central Pacific. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 410, doi: /meps08634 Howard, B.C. (2014, Sep 26). U.S. Creates Largest Protected Area in the World, 3X Larger Than California. National Geographic. Retrieved from: Ives, A. R., & Carpenter, S. R. (2007). Stability and diversity of ecosystems. Science, 317(5834), Moberg, F., & Folke, C. (1999). Ecological goods and services of coral reef ecosystems. Ecological Economics, 29(2), NOAA, USFWS, & State of Hawaii DLNR. (2008). Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Management Plan. Retrieved January 18, 2016, from Sandin, S.A., Smith, J.E., DeMartini, E.E., Dinsdale, E.A., Donner, S.D., Friendlander, A.M., Konotchick, T., Malay, M., Maragos, J.E., Obura, D., et al. (2008). Baselines and Degradation of Coral Reefs in the Northern Line Islands. PLOS One. 3(2), e1548. doi: /journal.pone The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM). (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2016, from Riebesell, U. (2008). Climate change: Acid test for marine biodiversity. Nature Reports Climate Change, US Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Retrieved January 17, 2016, from ational_monument/documents/primnm%20brief(2).pdf Wilkinson, C. (2008). Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008 Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. Townsville, Australia, 296. Wilson, S. K., Graham, N. A., Pratchett, M. S., Jones, G. P., & Polunin, N. V. (2006). Multiple disturbances and the global degradation of coral reefs: are reef fishes at risk or resilient? Global Change Biology, 12(11), Worm, B., Barbier, E. B., Beaumont, N., Duffy, J. E., Folke, C., Halpern, B. S., Palumbi, S. R. (2006). Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services. Science, 314(5800), Budget and Justification We do not expect the project s basic operations during the school year to exceed the $1,300 stipend provided by the Bren School.

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8 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE Pacific Islands Regional Office 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg 176 Honolulu, Hawaii (808) Fax: (808) Group Project Committee Bren School for Environmental Science and Management 2400 Bren Hall, University of California Santa Barbara, CA January 20, 2016 RE: Support for Bren Group Project Proposal: Bridging Science and Management in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Dear Group Project Committee I am writing to express our support for the Bren Group Project Proposal titled Bridging Science and Management in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) and more specifically the National Marine Fisheries Service ( NMFS ) Marine National Monument Program located in the Pacific Islands Regional Office is dedicated to understanding and protecting the unique natural and cultural resources within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument ( PRIMNM or Monument ) through the advancement of scientific research, exploration, and public education. NMFS has the management responsibility of all fishery related activities within the Monument, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and management Act (16 U.S.C et seq.). In order to meet these management requirements, the NMFS Marine National Monuments Program supports science activities within the Monument area that will obtain and provide the best available science to managers. The Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation 8336 in Presidential Proclamation 9173 expanded the Monument area in 2014 for a total of 370,000 square nautical miles, making it one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. The Monument is home to the most widespread collection of marine life on the planet and protects highly pristine deep sea areas and open-ocean ecosystems overlaying a diverse seafloor topography and array of benthic and pelagic habitats that support biological communities. The Monument encompasses Wake, Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, and Palmyra Atoll.

9 The management of the areas within the Monument boundaries is partly based on the information that is received from our scientific counterparts in the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center ( PIFSC ). This particular proposal is extremely unique in that it includes both scientific topics as well as exposure to the process that entails managing MPAs and the natural resources within them. From a management perspective, we are extremely excited about this proposal and the potential partnership with the Bren School because it will really allow us to begin developing a management plan for the Monument. The student s work will also allow for us to learn more intimately about this unique area and what we as managers can do to preserve and protect its rare and near-pristine features. Our office frequently uses Geographical Information Systems to organize information and data and translate it into forms which can then be used to effectuate management plans or display for informational purposes. A high priority for our program this year is to make substantial progress on a management plan for the PRIMNM as the expansion of the Monument was designated by President Obama and he is currently serving his last term as President. In order to achieve an effective management plan for the Monument it is crucial that we gather data concerning the Monument area, interpret and synthesize the data to better understand the Monument area, and then identify and address threats to the Monument area. The objectives of this project proposal align closely with our needs for data analysis and the development of tools such as maps and other informative materials that can be used to draft and implement an effective management plan for the Monument. An additional objective of the project includes an element of outreach and education and producing materials that can be used for some time even after the project is finished. This is extremely important to our program and will be useful in educating people about the Monument and MPAs in general. Recognizing the project s importance, we plan to share available data and resources with the project team. We understand that if funds are available, students may serve as interns in the PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ( CREP ) here in Honolulu, Hawaii. If this were to occur, we would coordinate with CREP to engage the students in management operations. In addition, the IUCN World Conservation Congress will be hosted in Hawaii this year, giving the Bren students an opportunity to participate, as volunteers or attendees, and potentially share their work. The IUCN World Conservation Congress is held every 4 years and brings together thousands of people from the conservation community, including decision-makers from government, civil society, indigenous peoples, business, and academia. We look forward to working with the Bren School on this project and thank you for considering this project. Me ka ha aha a, L. Hokulani Ka aekuahiwi Policy Management Specialist NOAA NMFS PIRO - Marine National Monument Program