Sustaining Natural Resources

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEPROGRAMS AND SERVICES WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 17-18, 2009

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

NOAA’s mission:

The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is …to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

NOAA and the Government of Puerto Rico have established multiple partnerships to conserve and manage Puerto Rico’s coastal and marine resources:

• Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program

• Fisheries research and sustainable management.

• Fisheries Joint Enforcement Agreement

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

NOAA - PRDNER partnerships:

• Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve • Coral Reefs Conservation and Management. • Coral Reef Communities Monitoring• Seamap program• Marine Turtles Habitat -Population Assessments• Marine Mammals Stranding Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE:

…is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE:

•Critical habitat designated for two threatened coral species: elkhorn and staghorn corals around all of Puerto Rico•Critical habitat designated for listed sea turtles around Mona and Monito Islands and Culebra Island •Essential fish habitat, including mangrove, seagrass beds, and corals, and habitat areas of particular concern are protected around Puerto Rico•Federal fishing regulations are in place for highly migratory species, several species of reef and deep water fish, spiny lobster, and queen conch•NOAA’s Restoration Center has a contractor in Puerto Rico to respond to vessel groundings in Puerto Rico’s waters.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

The Coastal Change Analysis Program

• National coastal land cover and change mapping program

• Inventory of intertidal areas, wetlands, and adjacent upland, produced/updated every 5 years

• Consistent, accurate products through standard data and methods

• Coastal Expression of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) “Designed to help improve

understanding of linkages between land change and the environment”

SeaGrant …to enhance the practical use and conservation of coastal, marine and Great Lakes resources to create a sustainable economy and environment.”In Puerto Rico: MPA, Co-Management of marine resources and protection of critical coastal habitats and marine resources Publications: “The Vertical Line” (Fuete & Verguilla, in Spanish) distributed to more than 800 fishers, resource managers and scientists. “Marejada” dedicated to coastal resources issues “ Sandwatch: An Educational Tool for Sustainable Development”“Aquatic Safety Assessment & Recommendations for Puerto Rico”.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

CARICOOS (NOAA-UPR-M):… is the observing arm of the Caribbean Regional Association for Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing (CaRA). • Caricoos funded by the NOAA is one of eleven coastal observing systems constituting the national coastal component of the U.S. IOOS.•Caricoos gathers coastal ocean data and forecasts from a variety of sources including satellites, ocean instruments and numerical models to give the user an integrated view of past, present and forecasted ocean conditions .

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

Current awards:

•CELCP coastal-estuarine lands acquisition………........ $3,000,000 •Coastal Zone Management Program ………………………. $2,324,200•Monitoring of Coral Reefs Communities …………………. $390,000 •Marine Turtles Habitat and population assessment … $130,064•Marine mammals training ……………………………………….... $78,000

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

Current awards:

•Commercial Fisheries …………………….. ………….$249,590.00 •Interjurisdictional Fisheries Project ……………..$36,559.00 •Marine Mammal Rescue Network ………………. $100,000.00 •Coral Reefs Conservation and Management … $274,000.00•National Estuarine Research Reserve ………….. $555,000.00

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

Sustaining Natural ResourcesSustaining Natural Resources

ERNESTO L. DIAZERNESTO L. DIAZDirectorDirector

Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEPROGRAMS AND SERVICES WORKSHOPPROGRAMS AND SERVICES WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 17-18, 2009NOVEMBER 17-18, 2009

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental ResourcesPuerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources