US reefs are impacted by 3 - 4 large groundings and hundreds of small incidents annually. In the aftermath of groundings, impacted corals are often broken, dislodged, or flipped over. These fragments are subject to abrasion, scour, and sedimentation, which ultimately result in death. Unchecked, these damages can result in additional reef loss and instability. However, if dislodged fragments can be collected and stabilized shortly after physical impacts then the probability of survival increases substantially (>90%). Response to physical impacts is a Jurisdictional Priority in both PR/USVI, an identified capacity gap in both jurisdictions, and a priority element of the draft Acropora recovery plan. Puerto Rico and the USVI have acknowledged that because of internal limitations and the need for quick and flexible response that more robust action on the part of NOAA was necessary to help stem the unchecked and unnecessary coral losses that were occurring after physical impacts.

Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
National Ocean Service (NOS)

Funding: Funding for this work was provided from NOAA's Restoration Center, the Coral Reef Conservation Program, Protected Resources Division, Assessment and Restoration Division and the South East Regional Office.;
Funding: Sponsored by NOAA CRCP, NOS; project number: 490;