Coral cover remains suppressed three years after derelict net removal in a remote shallow water coral reef ecosystem

Halperin, A.A.; Lichowski, F.; Morioka, J.; O'Brien, K.; Suka, R.; Huntington, B.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114703

i

Coral cover remains suppressed three years after derelict net removal in a remote shallow water coral reef ecosystem

2023
By: Halperin, A.A. ; Lichowski, F. ; Morioka, J.
Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin 188 (2023) 114703

Details

Journal Title:

Marine Pollution Bulletin
Personal Author:

Halperin, A.A. ; Lichowski, F. ; Morioka, J. ; O'Brien, K. ; Suka, R. ; Huntington, B.
NOAA Program & Office:

CoRIS (Coral Reef Information System) ; NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; CIMAR (Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research) ; DWH (Deepwater Horizon)
Description:

The uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) contain 70 % of the shallow water coral reefs in the United States. An estimated 52 metric tons of derelict fishing nets accumulate here annually, becoming entangled in the reef structure and reducing coral cover. Here, we investigated the longevity of derelict net impacts on coral reef communities three years after net removal at Pearl and Hermes Atoll. Structure-from-Motion technology was used to resurvey net impact and control sites to determine whether coral cover rebounded at impact sites over time. Our results showed significantly lower coral cover at impact sites. Much of the bare substrate immediately exposed after net removal was also colonized by algae —not reef calcifiers. Continued monitoring of these sites will add clarity to the lasting nature of derelict nets on reefs, and supplementing net removal efforts with active restoration activities may assist in restoring the ecosystem function of impacted sites faster.
Keywords:
Source:

Marine Pollution Bulletin 188 (2023) 114703
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114703
Format:

PDF
Document Type:

Journal Article
Rights Information:

Accepted Manuscript
Compliance:

Submitted
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/49278/noaa_49278_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.81 MB]
Collection(s):

NOAA Cooperative Institutes ; National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) ; Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) ; Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Restoration (DWH)
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:2592193d5cf549e48f490d10e9aafafb1bf66a9f724f67c55d925f5c71e2dcf2

ON THIS PAGE

Details

Found an issue?

Send us an email at:

noaa.repository@noaa.gov

The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners. As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.