Experimental Oculina Research Reserve

The Experimental Oculina Research Reserve preserves the Oculina Banks, a reef of ivory bush coral (Oculina varicosa) off the coast of Fort Pierce, Florida. Oculina varicosa is a U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service species of concern.[1] Species of concern are those species about which the U.S. Government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service, has some concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient information is available to indicate a need to list the species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Experimental Oculina Research Reserve
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
LocationFlorida, USA
Nearest cityFort Pierce, Florida
Coordinates28°N 80°W
Area1,030 km2 (400 sq mi)
EstablishedJune 27, 1994
Governing bodyNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Location

In 1984, a 92 square-nautical-mile (316 km2) portion of these reefs was designated the Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern. In 1994, the area was closed to all manner of bottom fishing and was redesignated a research reserve. In 2000, the marine protected area was expanded to 300 square nautical miles (1,030 km2) and prohibited all gears that caused mechanical disruption to the habitat.[2]

Conservation

Commercial and recreational harvesters heavily exploited reef fish, such as grouper and snapper, prior to the establishment of the reserve, and extensive areas of ivory bush coral habitat had been reduced to rubble by trawling or dredging, with few or no living coral colonies remaining in sections of the bank.[3] Reef fish populations in the impacted areas have become sparse. The reserve is now undergoing habitat restoration projects.

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References
  1. NOAA Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources. "Proactive Conservation Program: Species of Concern". Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  2. Reed JK (2000). "Oculina Coral Banks of Florida: Conservation and management of a deep-water reserve". In: Hallock and French (eds). Diving for Science...2000. Proceedings. of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (Proceedings of the 20th Annual Scientific Diving Symposium). Retrieved 2010-11-19.
  3. Reed JK, Koenig CC, Shepard AN, Gilmore Jr RG (2007). "Long Term Monitoring of a Deep-water Coral Reef: Effects of Bottom Trawling". In: NW Pollock, JM Godfrey (Eds.) the Diving for Science…2007. Proceedings. of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (Twenty-sixth annual Scientific Diving Symposium). Retrieved 2009-02-18.


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