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Development and implementation of coral reef biocriteria in U.S. jurisdictions

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Abstract

Coral reefs worldwide are declining at an alarming rate and are under continuous threat from both natural and anthropogenic environmental stressors. Warmer sea temperatures attributed to global climate change and numerous human activities at local scales place these valuable ecosystems at risk. Reefs provide numerous services, including shoreline protection, fishing, tourism and biological diversity, which are lost through physical damage, overfishing, and pollution. Pollution can be controlled under provisions of the Clean Water Act, but these options have not been fully employed to protect coral reefs. No U.S. jurisdiction has implemented coral reef biocriteria, which are narrative or quantitative water quality standards based on the condition of a biological resource or assemblage. The President’s Ocean Action Plan directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop biological assessment methods and biological criteria for evaluating and maintaining the health of coral reef ecosystems. EPA has formed the Coral Reef Biocriteria Working Group (CRBWG) to foster development of coral reef biocriteria through focused research, evaluation and communication among Agency partners and U.S. jurisdictions. Ongoing CRBWG activities include development and evaluation of a rapid bioassessment protocol for application in biocriteria programs; development of a survey design and monitoring strategy for the U.S. Virgin Islands; comprehensive reviews of biocriteria approaches proposed by states and territories; and assembly of data from a variety of monitoring programs for additional metrics. Guidance documents are being prepared to assist U.S. jurisdictions in reaching protective and defensible biocriteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atlantic Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Key West, FL, USA

    Patricia Bradley

  2. Gulf Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Gulf Breeze, FL, USA

    William S. Fisher

  3. Office of Science and Technology, U.S. EPA Office of Water, Washington, DC, USA

    Heidi Bell

  4. Environmental Analysis Division, U.S. EPA Office of Environmental Information, Ft. Meade, MD, USA

    Wayne Davis

  5. Office of Science Policy, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, USA

    Valerie Chan

  6. Division of Environmental Planning and Protection, U.S. EPA Region 2, New York, NY, USA

    Charles LoBue

  7. Region 9, U.S. EPA, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Wendy Wiltse

  8. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, c/o FKNMS, 33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL, 33040, USA

    Patricia Bradley

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  1. Patricia Bradley
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  2. William S. Fisher
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  3. Heidi Bell
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  4. Wayne Davis
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  5. Valerie Chan
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  6. Charles LoBue
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  7. Wendy Wiltse
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Correspondence to Patricia Bradley.

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Bradley, P., Fisher, W.S., Bell, H. et al. Development and implementation of coral reef biocriteria in U.S. jurisdictions. Environ Monit Assess 150, 43–51 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0670-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0670-2

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