Coral reef disturbances (e.g., major disease outbreaks, thermal stress events that cause bleaching, invasive or nuisance species, strong hurricanes and typhoons, and anthropogenic activities like large-scale dredging and vessel groundings) are major events that can have dramatic, acute impacts on coral reefs. Creating an adaptive framework for disturbance response will lessen the impacts of disturbance events on coral reef ecosystems and the marine species and coastal communities that depend on them. Mitigating the impacts will ensure the long-term health and sustainability of coral reefs and their ability to provide key ecosystem goods and services.
EXAMPLE PROJECTS
National
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Coral Disease & Disturbance Working Group Annual Newsletter
States and Territories
Several species of invasive soft corals have recently been found in Hawai'i and the Caribbean
Atlantic and the Caribbean
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a highly destructive coral disease currently found in Florida and the Caribbean
National
Marine biosecurity refers to the policies, actions, and practices designed to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful marine organisms—such as invasive species, diseases, and pathogens—into ocean and coastal environments.