|
(Click
on each photo to view a larger version)
The Refuge System's Best Kept Secret
While national wildlife refuges are usually recognized as havens for migratory birds and vital conservation areas for species at risk, a lesser-known attribute of the Refuge System is that it also protects the lion’s share of our nation’s coral reefs. In all, refuges encompass about 3 million acres of coral reef habitat in the Pacific, Caribbean, and off of Florida's coast. In fact, the Refuge System protects more reef habitat than any other federal agency. Of the 545 national wildlife refuges, 13 include coral reefs. Of those, 10 reefs are in the Pacific and include more than 2 million acres. The 3 refuges in the Caribbean and Florida's coast contain 756,000 acres combined. Over 7,000 species of animals inhabit the various refuges.
 |
| click |
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) protects and restores refuge coral reefs through habitat restoration, marine zoning, education, research, and monitoring. The Sportfish Restoration Program manages and protects coral reef fisheries. Yet because the Refuge System is massively underfunded (click here to read about the funding crisis), the FWS does not have the necessary staffing and resources to ensure these vital marine resources are adequately protected. Further, a host of threats to coral reefs challenge their long-term health.
 |
| click |
On a positive note, reefs in the Pacific received a boost when President Bush in June 2006 announced the creation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Monument, the world's largest protected marine region. At the heart of the monument lie two refuges, Midway Atoll NWR and the Hawaiian Islands NWR.
Click here to learn more about corals.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT CORAL REEFS?
|
|
|
Coral reefs are home to more than just coral. |
| James Watt/NOAA |
Refuges: Refuges in the Pacific, Caribbean and Florida provide federal protection for coral reefs. Yet, because of funding shortages, critical research, management and law enforcement needs go unmet. We can provide support for refuges at the grassroots level by urging decision-makers to support funding and authorization for refuge coral reefs. To take action now, click here.
Reducing Fossil Fuel Emissions:By investing in alternatives to fossil fuels, and adopting conservation measures at home, we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released. The less carbon-based fossil fuels we use, the better chance we have to mitigate the effects of global warming, a series threat to our coral reefs.
|
|
Fisher's Angelfish in Hawaiian Island reefs
|
James Watt/NOAA |
Other Human Activities: To protect coral reefs, people can stop using chemically enhanced fertilizers and pesticides that might drain in waterways that end up in the ocean. When shopping for an aquarium, they should only buy coral that has been grown in an aquarium and not harvested from the ocean. When diving, people should resist touching coral and other reef organisms and just enjoy their beauty. Recycling is a great way to prevent waste from ending up in the ocean and landfills. When visiting the beach, everyone can help by picking up trash you see to prevent it from going into the ocean.
|
