National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Socioeconomic Monitoring Component

"This technical memorandum presents the findings from the initial South Florida NCRMP socioeconomic data collection. The report presents preliminary social indicators and provides examples of how indicators can be used to analyze changes over time in a long term setting. The main objective is to lay the groundwork for combining and comparing socioeconomic variables with a goal of developing meaningful indicators that can be used to examine trends in human dimensions of coral reef resources and better understand human influences on effective coral reef conservation. It should be noted that this report presents information that, in many instances, is being collected for the first time. In all instances, the information represents baseline socioeconomic data for the NCRMP. Some of the variables presented in this report identify gaps in information, and we provide suggestions on how these gaps can be addressed in the future"--Purpose of this report. [doi:10.7289/V5VH5KV5 (http://doi.org/10.7289/V5VH5KV5)]

"This technical memorandum presents the findings from the initial Hawaiʻi NCRMP socioeconomic data collection. The report presents preliminary social indicators and provides examples of how composite indicators can be used to analyze changes over time in a long term setting. The main objective is to lay the groundwork for combining and comparing socioeconomic variables with a goal of developing meaningful composite indicators that can be used to examine trends in human dimensions of coral reef resources and better understand human influences on effective coral reef conservation. It should be noted that this report presents information that, in many instances, is being collected for the first time. In all instances, the information represents baseline socioeconomic data for the NCRMP. Some of the variables presented in this report identify gaps in information, and we provide suggestions on how these gaps can be addressed in the future"--Purpose of this Report (page 2). [doi:10.7289/V5/TM-CRCP-30 (https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-CRCP-30)]

"This technical memorandum presents the findings from the initial Puerto Rico NCRMP socioeconomic data collection. The report presents preliminary social indicators and provides examples of how indicators can be used to analyze changes over time in a long-term setting. The main objective is to lay the groundwork for combining and comparing socioeconomic variables with a goal of developing meaningful indicators that can be used to examine trends in human dimensions of coral reef resources and better understand human influences on effective coral reef conservation. It should be noted that this report presents information that, in many instances, is being collected for the first time. In all instances, the information represents baseline socioeconomic data for the NCRMP. Some of the variables presented in this report identify gaps in information, and we provide suggestions on how these gaps can be addressed in the future"--Page 2

"This report outlines human dimensions information relevant to coral reef resources in American Samoa. The findings here are derived from a combination of data gathered through household surveys conducted in February 2014, and additional secondary sources of socioeconomic information for the jurisdiction. Surveys demonstrated that participation in recreational coral reef related activities such as SCUBA diving and snorkeling is relatively uncommon in American Samoa, with the exception of swimming and beach recreation. However, over half of residents participate in fishing or gathering of marine resources. Residents of urban areas perceived coral reef ecosystem health to be in worse condition than residents of rural areas. Additionally, surveys revealed that American Samoans generally support current marine management policies and regulations, regardless of their reliance on marine resources, and are generally trusting of the government as a source of information"--Executive summary. [doi:10.7289/V5FB50Z1 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5FB50Z1)]

"To support the development of indicators, methods and measures for the National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan , the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program sponsored a workshop for scientists to review the socioeconomic plan, validate and refine the indicators and develop secondary data measures . Held at the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Hollings Marine Laboratory June 13 - 15, 2012, the workshop produced outputs that will be used along with the previously developed plan and survey questions in monitoring seven inhabited U.S. Coral Reef jurisdictions . The group prioritized thirteen indicators and provided valuable details on measurement and methods. This workshop provided an opportunity for expanded review of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan social science indicators and monitoring plan to ensure optimal design of this important program. Many of the participants are interested in continuing to advise the socioeconomic monitoring team as National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan implementation begins in FY 13, leading to the national status and trends report card"--Page 1.

This book explores the ethnobiology of corals by examining the various ways in which humans, past and present, have exploited and taken care of coral and coralline habitats. This book will bring the educated general audience closer to corals by exploring the various circumstances of human-coral coexistence by providing scientifically sound and jargon-free perspectives and experiences from across the globe. Corals are a vital part of the marine environment since they promote and sustain marine and global biodiversity while providing numerous other environmental and cultural services. Countless valuable coral conservation efforts are published in academic and general audience venues on a daily basis. However relevant, few of these reports show a direct, deeper understanding of the intimate relationship between people and corals throughout the world’s societies. Ethnobiology of Corals and Coral Reefs establishes an intimate bond between the audience and the wonder of corals and their importance to humankind.

"The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) is a matrix program operating across four NOAA line offices: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and is administered by NOS. The program supports coral reef regions of the United States (U.S.), has an international component, and is integrated with other federal agencies, states, territories and commonwealths, and local governments. Recommendations from a 2007 external program review, along with the subsequent planning process (the 'roadmap') and a change in leadership in 2011, have shaped the recent history of the CRCP, including the genesis of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP), the Coral Program's 'national status and trends' monitoring program. The Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) has been a leader in coral reef conservation science since 1978. Congress passed the Coral Reef Conservation Act in 2000 and SEFSC dovetailed its management-relevant coral reef science with the fledgling NOAA CRCP. SEFSC maintains a strong coral reef science program and continues to deliver high-caliber, peer-reviewed science in support of coral reef conservation and management and other NMFS mandates to conserve the nation's fisheries, essential fish habitat, and protected species. The reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (2006) puts a heavier burden on data quality in many coral reef ecosystems. Additionally, the listing of two Atlantic corals as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2006, and a petition to list an additional 83 species of coral in 2009, underscores the importance of NMFS as a critical regulatory authority to effect change in coral reefs"--Introduction. (doi:10.7289/V5HD7SKP (http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5HD7SKP))

"The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) is a matrix program operating across four NOAA line offices: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Marine Fisheries Service, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and is administered by NOS. The program supports conservation of coral reef regions of the United States, has an international component, and is integrated with other federal agencies, states, territories and commonwealths, and local governments. The program has been operating under the still-in-use strategic guidance of the CRCP's 2010-2015 'goals and objectives'. The Southeast Fisheries Science Center has been a leader in coral reef conservation science since 1978. Congress passed the Coral Reef Conservation Act in 2000 and the SEFSC dovetailed its management-relevant coral reef science with the fledgling NOAA CRCP. SEFSC maintains a strong coral reef science program and continues to deliver high-caliber, peer-reviewed science in support of coral reef conservation and management and other National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) mandates to conserve the nation's fisheries, essential fish habitat, and protected species. Recent activities that have shaped the course of SEFSC's coral reef science program include the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (2006), which has drawn attention to data deficiencies for coral reef fisheries; the listing of 7 Atlantic corals (2 in 2006, 5 in 2014) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); and the advent of the CRCP's National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) in 2013. NMFS plays a critical regulatory role to effect change on coral reefs"--Introduction. [doi:10.7289/V5X63JXD (http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5X63JXD)]