WEBVTT

1
00:00:02.656 --> 00:00:04.260
<v ->Good evening and welcome.</v>

2
00:00:04.260 --> 00:00:05.570
We're pleased to have you join us

3
00:00:05.570 --> 00:00:08.330
for our annual Seaside Chat Speaker Series

4
00:00:08.330 --> 00:00:09.710
about ocean topics associated

5
00:00:09.710 --> 00:00:12.490
with Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary,

6
00:00:12.490 --> 00:00:14.360
and the Gulf of Mexico.

7
00:00:14.360 --> 00:00:15.520
This year, we were also part

8
00:00:15.520 --> 00:00:17.990
of the National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series,

9
00:00:17.990 --> 00:00:20.687
hosted by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

10
00:00:20.687 --> 00:00:24.373
and we're part of the one NOAA Science Seminar Series.

11
00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:26.270
During the presentation,

12
00:00:26.270 --> 00:00:28.980
all attendees will be in listen-only mode.

13
00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:31.180
You are welcome to type questions for the presenter

14
00:00:31.180 --> 00:00:34.210
into the question box in the bottom of the control panel

15
00:00:34.210 --> 00:00:36.380
on the right-hand side of your screen.

16
00:00:36.380 --> 00:00:38.190
This is the same area you can let us know

17
00:00:38.190 --> 00:00:40.950
about any technical issues you may be having.

18
00:00:40.950 --> 00:00:42.880
We will be monitoring incoming questions

19
00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:44.400
and technical issues,

20
00:00:44.400 --> 00:00:47.280
and we'll respond to them as soon as we can.

21
00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:48.980
We are recording this session

22
00:00:48.980 --> 00:00:50.040
and we'll post the recording

23
00:00:50.040 --> 00:00:51.680
to the National Marine Sanctuaries

24
00:00:51.680 --> 00:00:55.730
and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary websites.

25
00:00:55.730 --> 00:00:58.520
We will notify registered participants via email

26
00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:00.793
when these recordings are made available.

27
00:01:03.300 --> 00:01:05.840
My name is Kelly Drinnen, I'm an outreach specialist

28
00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:08.660
with Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary,

29
00:01:08.660 --> 00:01:10.560
and I'll be facilitating today's webinar

30
00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:12.450
from Dickinson, Texas.

31
00:01:12.450 --> 00:01:15.820
Leslie Whaylen Clift, our constituency affairs coordinator

32
00:01:15.820 --> 00:01:18.690
is also joining us from Galveston, Texas.

33
00:01:18.690 --> 00:01:19.790
Leslie will be helping me

34
00:01:19.790 --> 00:01:22.293
with the backend administration of this webinar.

35
00:01:28.690 --> 00:01:31.520
NOAA manages a system of marine protected areas

36
00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:33.410
called National Marine Sanctuaries

37
00:01:33.410 --> 00:01:35.860
that are found throughout the coastal US.

38
00:01:35.860 --> 00:01:38.440
National Marine Sanctuaries are special ocean areas

39
00:01:38.440 --> 00:01:40.900
set aside by Congress to better understand

40
00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:43.350
and protect for future generations.

41
00:01:43.350 --> 00:01:46.140
They're like national parks and national forests,

42
00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:47.750
yet underwater.

43
00:01:47.750 --> 00:01:49.280
the National Marine Sanctuary System

44
00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.770
consists of 15 Marine protected areas

45
00:01:51.770 --> 00:01:54.720
that encompass more than 600,000 square miles

46
00:01:54.720 --> 00:01:56.890
of marine and Great Lakes waters

47
00:01:56.890 --> 00:01:59.430
from Washington state to the Florida Keys

48
00:01:59.430 --> 00:02:02.690
and from Lake Huron to American Samoa.

49
00:02:02.690 --> 00:02:05.950
The system includes 14 National Marine Sanctuaries

50
00:02:05.950 --> 00:02:07.880
and the Papahanaumokuakea

51
00:02:07.880 --> 00:02:10.663
and Rose Atoll Marine National Monuments.

52
00:02:15.140 --> 00:02:17.600
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

53
00:02:17.600 --> 00:02:21.140
is mandated to conduct research, monitoring,

54
00:02:21.140 --> 00:02:24.820
resource protection, education, outreach,

55
00:02:24.820 --> 00:02:28.080
and of course, management of America's underwater treasures

56
00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:30.940
to preserve them for future generations.

57
00:02:30.940 --> 00:02:32.250
Reasons for designation

58
00:02:32.250 --> 00:02:34.610
can include special conservation value,

59
00:02:34.610 --> 00:02:38.150
recreation value, cultural, heritage,

60
00:02:38.150 --> 00:02:41.720
archeological, historical, and aesthetic qualities

61
00:02:41.720 --> 00:02:45.663
in our oceans of the United States and its territories.

62
00:02:51.169 --> 00:02:54.950
National Marine Centers are also living classrooms

63
00:02:54.950 --> 00:02:57.520
where people can see, touch and learn

64
00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:00.283
about the nation's Great Lakes and ocean treasures.

65
00:03:05.420 --> 00:03:07.250
Today's Seaside Chat Series is hosted

66
00:03:07.250 --> 00:03:09.930
by Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary,

67
00:03:09.930 --> 00:03:13.220
the only National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico.

68
00:03:13.220 --> 00:03:15.180
This sanctuary consists of three banks

69
00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:17.650
or small underwater mountains that are home

70
00:03:17.650 --> 00:03:20.070
to some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world,

71
00:03:20.070 --> 00:03:22.490
an amazing algal sponge community

72
00:03:22.490 --> 00:03:23.840
and deep reef habitats

73
00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.450
featuring an abundance of black coral.

74
00:03:26.450 --> 00:03:27.960
In January of this year,

75
00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:31.070
the sanctuary also published a final rule for expansion,

76
00:03:31.070 --> 00:03:33.640
which will add portions of another 14 reefs and banks

77
00:03:33.640 --> 00:03:34.623
to the sanctuary.

78
00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:38.840
Today's presentation is about

79
00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:41.130
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,

80
00:03:41.130 --> 00:03:43.020
over 700 miles to the East

81
00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:46.110
of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

82
00:03:46.110 --> 00:03:49.040
Over the last 40 years, coral reefs in the Florida Keys,

83
00:03:49.040 --> 00:03:53.100
like many reefs worldwide, have suffered dramatic declines.

84
00:03:53.100 --> 00:03:56.400
Nearly 90% of the live corals that once dominated the reefs

85
00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:57.750
have been lost.

86
00:03:57.750 --> 00:03:59.170
An emergency action is required

87
00:03:59.170 --> 00:04:00.890
to change the trajectory

88
00:04:00.890 --> 00:04:03.480
of the health of the coral reefs in the Keys.

89
00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:06.330
NOAA and its partners have developed an ambitious approach

90
00:04:06.330 --> 00:04:07.620
to restore corals

91
00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:10.200
at seven each ecologically significant sites

92
00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:11.403
in the Florida Keys.

93
00:04:13.090 --> 00:04:16.210
Today, we welcome Sarah Fangman, Sanctuary Superintendent

94
00:04:16.210 --> 00:04:18.560
of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

95
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:21.630
to describe the Mission: Iconic Reefs Initiatives,

96
00:04:21.630 --> 00:04:23.630
and talk about the exciting advancements

97
00:04:24.539 --> 00:04:25.850
in restoration science

98
00:04:25.850 --> 00:04:28.580
and practice that support the mission.

99
00:04:28.580 --> 00:04:31.960
As superintendent of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,

100
00:04:31.960 --> 00:04:34.300
Sarah Fangman is responsible for leadership,

101
00:04:34.300 --> 00:04:36.470
vision and strategic direction,

102
00:04:36.470 --> 00:04:40.770
overseeing a staff of more than 35 employees and affiliates.

103
00:04:40.770 --> 00:04:45.770
Fangman came to the Florida Keys in 2017,

104
00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.780
with 19 years of experience

105
00:04:47.780 --> 00:04:50.330
working for the National Marine Sanctuary System--

106
00:04:50.330 --> 00:04:52.200
most recently, as superintendent

107
00:04:52.200 --> 00:04:57.200
of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary from 2014 to 2017.

108
00:04:57.390 --> 00:04:58.740
She was the program coordinator

109
00:04:58.740 --> 00:05:01.750
of the Southeast Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region

110
00:05:01.750 --> 00:05:04.360
from 2005 to 2014,

111
00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:06.010
and served as the research coordinator

112
00:05:06.010 --> 00:05:08.480
for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

113
00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:11.600
from 1998 to 2005.

114
00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:14.250
Through her work with the National Marine Sanctuary System,

115
00:05:14.250 --> 00:05:17.310
Fangman has conducted more than 600 scuba dives

116
00:05:17.310 --> 00:05:18.750
in the Florida Keys,

117
00:05:18.750 --> 00:05:22.750
obtained a US Coast Guard, 100-ton masters captain's license

118
00:05:22.750 --> 00:05:25.293
and became a certified submersible pilot.

119
00:05:26.324 --> 00:05:28.840
Fangman first came to NOAA in 1996

120
00:05:28.840 --> 00:05:30.840
as a presidential management fellow,

121
00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:32.300
where she was the special assistant

122
00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:33.430
to the deputy director

123
00:05:33.430 --> 00:05:35.810
of the Northwest Fishery Science Center.

124
00:05:35.810 --> 00:05:38.280
She holds a master's degree in Marine affairs

125
00:05:38.280 --> 00:05:40.760
from the University of Washington.

126
00:05:40.760 --> 00:05:43.560
At this time, I'd like to welcome Sarah Fangman

127
00:05:44.520 --> 00:05:46.323
and hand over the screen control.

128
00:05:50.130 --> 00:05:50.993
Welcome, Sarah.

129
00:05:54.971 --> 00:05:57.293
There you go, okay.

130
00:05:57.293 --> 00:05:58.960
(laughing)

131
00:05:58.960 --> 00:06:00.670
<v ->I've done this before, I swear.</v>

132
00:06:00.670 --> 00:06:02.020
(laughing)

133
00:06:02.020 --> 00:06:03.820
Good evening everyone.

134
00:06:03.820 --> 00:06:05.067
Thank you, I appreciate it.

135
00:06:05.067 --> 00:06:06.717
And you're seeing my slides, yes.

136
00:06:07.810 --> 00:06:08.820
I think so.

137
00:06:08.820 --> 00:06:10.130
Okay.

138
00:06:10.130 --> 00:06:13.610
So I first wanna thank everyone for tuning in this evening.

139
00:06:13.610 --> 00:06:15.530
I know that there are plenty of things

140
00:06:15.530 --> 00:06:18.400
you could be doing with your evening,

141
00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:19.730
and I am very grateful

142
00:06:19.730 --> 00:06:24.730
that you chose to come and join us and listen to this talk

143
00:06:24.750 --> 00:06:26.960
about the Florida Keys and the work that we're doing

144
00:06:26.960 --> 00:06:30.410
to try to help protect this special place.

145
00:06:30.410 --> 00:06:34.730
And I'm going to talk about an ambitious plan

146
00:06:34.730 --> 00:06:37.990
that we have developed here in the Florida Keys.

147
00:06:37.990 --> 00:06:39.448
But before I start with that,

148
00:06:39.448 --> 00:06:43.193
I just want to tell you a little bit about myself.

149
00:06:44.830 --> 00:06:47.980
My first experience with a coral reef

150
00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:51.139
actually occurred when I was quite young,

151
00:06:51.139 --> 00:06:54.600
and I certainly didn't expect

152
00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:56.700
to have a magical experience like this.

153
00:06:56.700 --> 00:06:59.430
I grew up about as far from a coral reef

154
00:06:59.430 --> 00:07:01.960
as you possibly can in the continental United States.

155
00:07:01.960 --> 00:07:03.570
I grew up in Minnesota.

156
00:07:03.570 --> 00:07:07.900
And if you are fortunate and you live in Minnesota,

157
00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:10.120
in the winter time, you escape.

158
00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.580
And so one winter in the late 1970s,

159
00:07:12.580 --> 00:07:16.720
my family escaped to Grand Cayman.

160
00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:18.600
And as you can see from this photograph,

161
00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:23.350
I strapped a mask on my face, stuck a snorkel in my mouth

162
00:07:23.350 --> 00:07:26.900
and was in that water for the entire vacation.

163
00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:31.550
And not surprisingly, became absolutely mesmerized

164
00:07:31.550 --> 00:07:36.470
by the magical world that I had the opportunity to explore.

165
00:07:36.470 --> 00:07:40.550
So I can assure you that back then,

166
00:07:40.550 --> 00:07:43.120
had anyone suggested to me

167
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.900
that I would make a career one day

168
00:07:45.900 --> 00:07:48.070
and one day be the superintendent

169
00:07:48.070 --> 00:07:49.460
of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,

170
00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:51.700
I would never have believed it.

171
00:07:51.700 --> 00:07:55.773
But I am very, very glad that I have ended up where I am.

172
00:07:57.220 --> 00:07:59.483
So tonight I wanna talk about three things.

173
00:08:00.470 --> 00:08:03.050
I wanna just touch on call decline in the Keys,

174
00:08:03.050 --> 00:08:05.430
because that's really obviously the important background

175
00:08:05.430 --> 00:08:07.893
for why we need to do restoration.

176
00:08:08.950 --> 00:08:10.360
I'm gonna talk about this mission

177
00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:13.070
we're referring to as Mission: Iconic Reefs.

178
00:08:13.070 --> 00:08:14.500
And then I'm also gonna talk about

179
00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:16.700
another important initiative we're working on down here

180
00:08:16.700 --> 00:08:19.573
called that we refer to as our Restoration Blueprint.

181
00:08:21.380 --> 00:08:25.870
So it will come as no surprise to anyone in this audience

182
00:08:25.870 --> 00:08:28.380
that coral reefs and Kelly said it,

183
00:08:28.380 --> 00:08:32.920
coral reefs in Florida have been declining for decades.

184
00:08:32.920 --> 00:08:36.305
And there are a number of reasons for this.

185
00:08:36.305 --> 00:08:40.950
Temperature stress, water quality issues,

186
00:08:40.950 --> 00:08:44.510
major storm events, fisheries, overfishing,

187
00:08:44.510 --> 00:08:48.260
lots of causes for those declines.

188
00:08:48.260 --> 00:08:51.500
And they have been happening, like I said for decades.

189
00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:53.980
This is true of a lot of reefs around the world.

190
00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:55.980
Fortunately, the Flower Garden Banks

191
00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:57.470
National Marine Sanctuary

192
00:08:57.470 --> 00:09:00.230
is still in a really great condition by comparison,

193
00:09:00.230 --> 00:09:04.730
but here in Florida, we've really seen significant decreases

194
00:09:04.730 --> 00:09:05.680
in our reef system.

195
00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:11.770
Unfortunately, in the last about six years,

196
00:09:11.770 --> 00:09:13.780
on top of all those other struggles

197
00:09:13.780 --> 00:09:17.810
that our corals have faced, we have been experiencing

198
00:09:17.810 --> 00:09:22.810
an unprecedented disease event here in Florida.

199
00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:26.150
We were first, this as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease,

200
00:09:26.150 --> 00:09:30.970
and it is unlike any disease event

201
00:09:30.970 --> 00:09:34.880
that has occurred anywhere in the world.

202
00:09:34.880 --> 00:09:37.830
And it is, as you can see from this slide,

203
00:09:37.830 --> 00:09:40.610
affecting a number of different coral species.

204
00:09:40.610 --> 00:09:45.610
And this started in 2014 and has been further decreasing

205
00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:49.273
the corals that we have here.

206
00:09:51.173 --> 00:09:53.330
So I mentioned, this is an unprecedented event.

207
00:09:53.330 --> 00:09:54.270
It's very unique.

208
00:09:54.270 --> 00:09:58.060
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is unusual

209
00:09:58.060 --> 00:09:58.893
for a number of reasons.

210
00:09:58.893 --> 00:09:59.726
First of all, as I mentioned,

211
00:09:59.726 --> 00:10:02.330
it started a number of years ago, actually in 2014

212
00:10:02.330 --> 00:10:04.460
off of Miami Key Biscayne area

213
00:10:05.650 --> 00:10:07.830
and it is still affecting our corals.

214
00:10:07.830 --> 00:10:10.470
That's highly unusual to have a disease event

215
00:10:10.470 --> 00:10:12.630
that lasts that long.

216
00:10:12.630 --> 00:10:15.280
Typically, disease events might flare up

217
00:10:15.280 --> 00:10:18.350
and then within a relatively short period of time,

218
00:10:18.350 --> 00:10:19.840
they dissipate.

219
00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:24.483
This disease event has persisted since 2014.

220
00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:28.210
It's also unique because of the number of species

221
00:10:28.210 --> 00:10:30.100
that are affected by this disease event.

222
00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:31.750
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

223
00:10:31.750 --> 00:10:34.900
affects about half of the stony corals

224
00:10:34.900 --> 00:10:36.263
on the Florida reef tract.

225
00:10:37.680 --> 00:10:42.410
Once affected, it can run through that coral

226
00:10:42.410 --> 00:10:44.910
very, very quickly, which is also unusual.

227
00:10:44.910 --> 00:10:48.380
More often, disease events when they affect a coral,

228
00:10:48.380 --> 00:10:52.110
they can kind of have a slow burn if you will.

229
00:10:52.110 --> 00:10:53.730
And in a number of species,

230
00:10:53.730 --> 00:10:56.790
unfortunately, if they succumb

231
00:10:56.790 --> 00:10:58.980
to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease,

232
00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:00.500
it's like a death sentence.

233
00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:02.210
So for some of the species affected,

234
00:11:02.210 --> 00:11:07.010
it is essentially they cannot survive it.

235
00:11:07.010 --> 00:11:10.550
So really significant incident

236
00:11:10.550 --> 00:11:12.230
that we've been dealing with for several years.

237
00:11:12.230 --> 00:11:13.710
And we've been undertaking

238
00:11:13.710 --> 00:11:17.560
a lot of different responses to this disease event,

239
00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:20.000
including things like trying to do interventions,

240
00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:22.490
applying antibiotics on disease corals,

241
00:11:22.490 --> 00:11:25.730
actually rescuing corals and pulling healthy corals

242
00:11:25.730 --> 00:11:28.110
off the reef and holding them in safe keeping

243
00:11:30.751 --> 00:11:33.560
in zoos and aquaria around the country.

244
00:11:33.560 --> 00:11:34.730
In fact, some of the corals

245
00:11:34.730 --> 00:11:37.551
from the Florida reef tract are in Texas.

246
00:11:37.551 --> 00:11:40.200
And so there's lots of things we've been doing

247
00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:43.200
in response to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

248
00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.340
One of the things that we are also doing

249
00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:47.670
in response to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

250
00:11:47.670 --> 00:11:48.933
is restoration.

251
00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:53.883
I'm gonna focus the rest of my comments on that.

252
00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:59.740
So fortunately for us, restoration has been taking place

253
00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:04.260
in the Florida Keys for quite some time, over 15 years.

254
00:12:04.260 --> 00:12:06.240
And so there's a tremendous amount of work

255
00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.430
that has been done here,

256
00:12:07.430 --> 00:12:10.120
really pioneered in the Florida Keys.

257
00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:14.060
And we stand on the shoulders of that.

258
00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:16.850
I would describe as heroic work.

259
00:12:16.850 --> 00:12:21.596
And so we really have an advantage in that regard.

260
00:12:21.596 --> 00:12:23.035
And I'm going to pause here

261
00:12:23.035 --> 00:12:26.317
because we have a question for you all.

262
00:12:26.317 --> 00:12:27.817
Kelly.
<v ->Yes we do.</v>

263
00:12:28.850 --> 00:12:30.023
And here is that question.

264
00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:40.683
We're trying to post the question.

265
00:12:45.030 --> 00:12:46.600
Here it is.

266
00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.433
There we go.

267
00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:51.860
If reef restoration started 15 years ago,

268
00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:54.970
why do we need a new initiative?

269
00:12:54.970 --> 00:12:56.426
Your choices are,

270
00:12:56.426 --> 00:12:58.560
restoration is not keeping up with the decline.

271
00:12:58.560 --> 00:13:01.070
Natural recovery is not fast enough.

272
00:13:01.070 --> 00:13:05.580
The Keys community wanted a solution or all of the above.

273
00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:08.143
Please feel free to vote at this time,

274
00:13:09.270 --> 00:13:11.480
and we will leave the voting open for a while

275
00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:15.173
until we see a good percentage of people participating.

276
00:13:18.330 --> 00:13:21.643
We've got about 70% of the people have voted at this point.

277
00:13:30.170 --> 00:13:32.300
Come on, let's get up to 80, 90%.

278
00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.670
Come on, everybody.

279
00:13:33.670 --> 00:13:35.157
What do you think?

280
00:13:35.157 --> 00:13:38.240
Why if reef restoration started 15 years ago,

281
00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.413
do we have a new initiative starting now?

282
00:13:44.020 --> 00:13:46.973
Okay, I'm gonna close the poll in about three seconds.

283
00:13:49.290 --> 00:13:54.290
Alrighty, and here are the results.

284
00:13:54.410 --> 00:13:57.470
It looks like most people answered all of the above.

285
00:13:57.470 --> 00:14:00.740
In fact, 92% of our participants

286
00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:02.593
selected all of the above, Sarah.

287
00:14:03.650 --> 00:14:05.200
<v ->That is fantastic.</v>

288
00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:08.540
What a brilliant audience, because all of the above

289
00:14:08.540 --> 00:14:11.030
is in fact the correct answer.

290
00:14:11.030 --> 00:14:13.570
So as I noted, we have been doing restoration

291
00:14:13.570 --> 00:14:16.200
in the Florida Keys for quite some time,

292
00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:21.200
and it has been really successful at the local level.

293
00:14:21.290 --> 00:14:23.690
So at the small scale.

294
00:14:23.690 --> 00:14:27.430
And as you have gathered, the issues that are raised

295
00:14:27.430 --> 00:14:31.560
are facing here in the Florida Keys are at a large scale.

296
00:14:31.560 --> 00:14:36.560
And so we have been doing really important dedicated work

297
00:14:37.730 --> 00:14:41.271
to try to do restoration in the Florida Keys

298
00:14:41.271 --> 00:14:42.830
for some time now.

299
00:14:42.830 --> 00:14:45.500
However, it's just not keeping up

300
00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:47.700
and it's not at an ecological scale,

301
00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:50.593
a scale that can really contribute ecologically.

302
00:14:52.260 --> 00:14:55.490
The other challenge with restoration

303
00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:59.870
and why we desperately need it here now

304
00:14:59.870 --> 00:15:04.310
is that natural recovery is not fast enough.

305
00:15:04.310 --> 00:15:09.100
If we could magically tonight, eliminate the challenges

306
00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:11.440
that have gotten us here in the first place.

307
00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:16.440
So clean up the water quality, eliminate future hurricanes.

308
00:15:16.510 --> 00:15:20.730
If we could not have any more temperature stress,

309
00:15:20.730 --> 00:15:21.740
no more over-fishing.

310
00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:24.249
If we could do all of that tonight,

311
00:15:24.249 --> 00:15:27.250
natural recovery would not happen fast enough,

312
00:15:27.250 --> 00:15:31.120
given the low levels of corals that we have here

313
00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.750
to get back to those services that we really need.

314
00:15:33.750 --> 00:15:37.470
And furthermore, in certain species,

315
00:15:37.470 --> 00:15:39.920
the declines have reached a point

316
00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:43.430
at which natural recovery is not even possible.

317
00:15:43.430 --> 00:15:45.250
And that's because in some cases,

318
00:15:45.250 --> 00:15:47.120
they are broadcast spawners.

319
00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:51.130
So male corals release sperm,

320
00:15:51.130 --> 00:15:53.040
female corals release eggs.

321
00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:54.400
They have to find one another.

322
00:15:54.400 --> 00:15:57.440
And if there are so few corals left

323
00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.600
and they're so far apart,

324
00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.670
those eggs and sperm cannot find one another

325
00:16:01.670 --> 00:16:04.180
and they can not successfully reproduce.

326
00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:06.940
And so that is the situation we have here.

327
00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:08.750
So natural recovery is not fast enough

328
00:16:08.750 --> 00:16:11.403
and in some cases, it can't even happen.

329
00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:17.570
So we really believe that we cannot afford

330
00:16:17.570 --> 00:16:20.600
to let these declines continue

331
00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:25.010
without taking on a really ambitious program

332
00:16:25.010 --> 00:16:26.920
to turn things around.

333
00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:29.150
We desperately need these resources

334
00:16:29.150 --> 00:16:31.470
because our reefs here in Florida

335
00:16:31.470 --> 00:16:33.210
provide an incredible service

336
00:16:33.210 --> 00:16:36.190
in terms of the coastal protection.

337
00:16:36.190 --> 00:16:39.290
We're very low lying here in the Florida Keys.

338
00:16:39.290 --> 00:16:41.780
And so we need these reefs for protection,

339
00:16:41.780 --> 00:16:44.520
we need them for tourism, we need them for fisheries,

340
00:16:44.520 --> 00:16:46.360
we need them for our community.

341
00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:50.573
And so we absolutely needed to act.

342
00:16:51.690 --> 00:16:54.130
Well of course, reef managers, reef biologists

343
00:16:54.130 --> 00:16:57.160
were not the only people that were looking for a solution.

344
00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:59.510
We heard loud and clear from the community,

345
00:16:59.510 --> 00:17:01.540
recognizing these declines,

346
00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:04.700
recognizing the urgency of the situation,

347
00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:07.850
we had all sorts of people coming to us,

348
00:17:07.850 --> 00:17:09.490
looking for a solution.

349
00:17:09.490 --> 00:17:11.660
Everything from elected officials,

350
00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.660
you see the guy in the center,

351
00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:15.570
that's Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

352
00:17:15.570 --> 00:17:16.990
He's very, very concerned

353
00:17:16.990 --> 00:17:18.870
about what's happening in Florida's reefs

354
00:17:18.870 --> 00:17:21.740
and interested in sharing some solutions

355
00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:24.090
that he can try to help support and get behind.

356
00:17:25.540 --> 00:17:29.020
But it also was members of the community

357
00:17:29.020 --> 00:17:31.230
all the way from very young people.

358
00:17:31.230 --> 00:17:32.930
And I wanna explain this photograph

359
00:17:32.930 --> 00:17:35.293
that's on the right side of the slide.

360
00:17:35.293 --> 00:17:38.100
What you're seeing here is a young diver,

361
00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:40.780
about 16 years old, Marcella Munoz.

362
00:17:40.780 --> 00:17:43.700
She was being interviewed for a documentary

363
00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:45.630
about a diving program that she's a part of

364
00:17:45.630 --> 00:17:48.170
here in the Florida Keys called "Dive Into Life."

365
00:17:48.170 --> 00:17:49.850
And as it happens, they were for a place

366
00:17:49.850 --> 00:17:54.850
to do this video or filming, and so we offered our facility.

367
00:17:55.330 --> 00:17:56.380
And so it was a Sunday.

368
00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:58.410
I came in, let them do the filming.

369
00:17:58.410 --> 00:17:59.670
I opened the doors.

370
00:17:59.670 --> 00:18:03.150
So I got to sit there and listen to Marcella be interviewed

371
00:18:03.150 --> 00:18:06.098
about her diving career.

372
00:18:06.098 --> 00:18:11.098
She started diving two years before this video was created.

373
00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:15.390
And I listened to her tell stories.

374
00:18:15.390 --> 00:18:18.430
In the two years that she had been diving

375
00:18:18.430 --> 00:18:22.710
in the Florida Keys, Marcella was describing

376
00:18:22.710 --> 00:18:25.423
seeing the corals decline.

377
00:18:26.770 --> 00:18:30.710
In just two years, this young new diver

378
00:18:30.710 --> 00:18:34.293
could tell stories about decline in our reefs.

379
00:18:34.293 --> 00:18:36.640
I will tell you that as the superintendent

380
00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:39.230
of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,

381
00:18:39.230 --> 00:18:42.020
that was like a dagger to my heart

382
00:18:42.020 --> 00:18:45.193
to hear a young person tell that story.

383
00:18:46.260 --> 00:18:50.120
But it was also incredibly inspiring.

384
00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:53.230
To me it said, we have got to do better.

385
00:18:53.230 --> 00:18:58.230
We have got to do better so that we can help this ecosystem

386
00:18:58.670 --> 00:19:00.290
turn things around.

387
00:19:00.290 --> 00:19:02.350
So listening to that young person

388
00:19:02.350 --> 00:19:07.083
was really powerful and important to me personally.

389
00:19:09.170 --> 00:19:11.520
Time for another question, Kelly.

390
00:19:11.520 --> 00:19:14.353
<v Kelly>And here we are poll question number two.</v>

391
00:19:16.470 --> 00:19:19.240
So knowing that the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

392
00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:22.580
is out there, why start restoration efforts now

393
00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:23.660
while there's this serious

394
00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:26.360
coral disease problem on the reef?

395
00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:28.590
Choices are, we like challenges,

396
00:19:28.590 --> 00:19:30.920
not all corals are affected by the disease

397
00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:33.823
or restoration efforts could cure the disease.

398
00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:37.373
Place your votes now.

399
00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:45.703
Looks like we have about 50% of people have voted so far.

400
00:19:50.812 --> 00:19:53.937
There's two answers that are taking

401
00:19:53.937 --> 00:19:57.093
most of the attention right now, Sarah.

402
00:19:58.250 --> 00:20:00.623
Let's see, we're up to 76%.

403
00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:06.030
This is your chance to vote, folks.

404
00:20:06.030 --> 00:20:07.663
You got about 10 more seconds.

405
00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:16.360
And we're gonna close the poll in three, two, one.

406
00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.940
Alrighty.

407
00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:21.710
So Sarah, it looks like most of our folks selected,

408
00:20:21.710 --> 00:20:25.670
not all corals are affected by the disease about 56%.

409
00:20:25.670 --> 00:20:27.281
But 42% also thought

410
00:20:27.281 --> 00:20:31.440
restoration efforts could cure the disease.

411
00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:35.093
And a couple people thought we just like challenges.

412
00:20:36.272 --> 00:20:37.105
(laughing)

413
00:20:37.105 --> 00:20:37.938
<v ->Well, we do like a challenge,</v>

414
00:20:37.938 --> 00:20:41.473
but I'd rather not have this particular challenge, honestly.

415
00:20:42.430 --> 00:20:47.430
So the correct answer I would say is related to that.

416
00:20:51.780 --> 00:20:54.720
Well, I'll just say that we think that

417
00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.820
and it's a question we get all the time.

418
00:20:56.820 --> 00:21:01.190
Why would you consider doing restoration

419
00:21:01.190 --> 00:21:04.170
until you solve the problems that got you here

420
00:21:04.170 --> 00:21:05.200
in the first place?

421
00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.640
You cure that disease, you fix water quality issues,

422
00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:10.300
you address temperature stress,

423
00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:12.150
and you eliminate the next hurricane.

424
00:21:13.520 --> 00:21:14.743
A reasonable question.

425
00:21:15.770 --> 00:21:20.200
My answer to that is that we must undertake restoration

426
00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:24.240
despite those challenges, because if we don't,

427
00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.540
it will be too late.

428
00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:29.230
If we wait to solve all of those problems,

429
00:21:29.230 --> 00:21:31.630
it may be too late.

430
00:21:31.630 --> 00:21:36.630
And not all the corals on the Florida reef tract

431
00:21:37.510 --> 00:21:41.190
are susceptible to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

432
00:21:41.190 --> 00:21:43.610
So those are the corals

433
00:21:43.610 --> 00:21:47.310
we can start our restoration efforts with.

434
00:21:47.310 --> 00:21:49.670
We can start with the coral species

435
00:21:49.670 --> 00:21:51.420
that are not susceptible,

436
00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:56.050
and we can start with the corals of susceptible species

437
00:21:56.050 --> 00:21:58.150
that have been resilient

438
00:21:58.150 --> 00:22:01.323
despite Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

439
00:22:03.060 --> 00:22:07.040
Furthermore, there are really exciting advances

440
00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:08.030
that are happening

441
00:22:08.030 --> 00:22:11.210
in the science of reef restoration right now.

442
00:22:11.210 --> 00:22:14.520
We're seeing a lot of really encouraging things happen.

443
00:22:14.520 --> 00:22:16.283
This is a relatively new field

444
00:22:16.283 --> 00:22:18.580
and there is a lot going on.

445
00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:21.250
So for example, some of the corals

446
00:22:21.250 --> 00:22:24.800
that have been out planted are beginning to reproduce.

447
00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:26.900
They're spawning on their own.

448
00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:28.780
That's exactly what we want to have happen.

449
00:22:28.780 --> 00:22:31.260
We don't want to be in the business

450
00:22:31.260 --> 00:22:34.770
of forever planting corals on these reefs.

451
00:22:34.770 --> 00:22:36.510
We want to plant them to the point

452
00:22:36.510 --> 00:22:38.710
where they can self sustain.

453
00:22:38.710 --> 00:22:40.270
We don't wanna do this forever

454
00:22:40.270 --> 00:22:41.960
and we're starting to see that happening,

455
00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:44.490
so that's really, really exciting.

456
00:22:44.490 --> 00:22:46.570
We're also, as I noted wanting to make sure

457
00:22:46.570 --> 00:22:49.610
that as we do this, we're using really resilient corals

458
00:22:49.610 --> 00:22:52.080
and we're encouraging a lot of diversity.

459
00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:55.450
And so toward that end, scientists are making sure

460
00:22:55.450 --> 00:22:59.950
that they're using a lot of different genome types.

461
00:22:59.950 --> 00:23:03.960
And so for example, with Acropora cervicornis,

462
00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:08.720
I'm not sure if you can see my icon here,

463
00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:12.190
but on the left side of the slide,

464
00:23:12.190 --> 00:23:14.550
there are some corals with little white tips.

465
00:23:14.550 --> 00:23:16.600
Those are Acropora cervicornis

466
00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:19.390
and those species we're doing exchanges

467
00:23:19.390 --> 00:23:21.160
among restoration practitioners.

468
00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:24.250
So that they're getting a lot of genetic diversity

469
00:23:24.250 --> 00:23:26.700
in the corals that they are growing

470
00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:28.610
so that when we outplant,

471
00:23:28.610 --> 00:23:29.970
they have the best chance

472
00:23:29.970 --> 00:23:33.470
of having a hardy mixture of corals out there.

473
00:23:33.470 --> 00:23:35.770
Some that may be more strong

474
00:23:35.770 --> 00:23:37.400
when it comes to temperature stress,

475
00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:40.200
others that may be more resistant to disease, et cetera.

476
00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:42.310
We need that diversity on our reefs.

477
00:23:42.310 --> 00:23:47.310
We're also doing rescue of wild Acropora palmata.

478
00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:50.300
So the larger again,

479
00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:52.570
I don't know if you can see my mouse moving around,

480
00:23:52.570 --> 00:23:55.150
but there's another coral species on this slide

481
00:23:55.150 --> 00:23:56.570
in the top right.

482
00:23:56.570 --> 00:24:00.271
Those we're collecting little snips

483
00:24:00.271 --> 00:24:02.160
from out in the wild and bringing that back in

484
00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:03.760
and mixing those genotypes

485
00:24:03.760 --> 00:24:06.660
into what we're growing in the nurseries.

486
00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:08.570
And so all of that is to try to make sure

487
00:24:08.570 --> 00:24:10.878
that we've got a really diverse pool.

488
00:24:10.878 --> 00:24:14.680
We're also working with new species

489
00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:19.680
and developing techniques to produce and grow in nurseries,

490
00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.310
new species.

491
00:24:21.310 --> 00:24:23.560
Typically, we've been working with the two corals

492
00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:25.490
that I just mentioned, the Acroporas,

493
00:24:25.490 --> 00:24:28.970
but we're starting to develop the tools and techniques

494
00:24:28.970 --> 00:24:30.080
for additional species.

495
00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:31.180
So that's really exciting.

496
00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:34.170
And then lastly, there's a lot of advancement happening

497
00:24:34.170 --> 00:24:37.650
in terms of production and outplanting techniques.

498
00:24:37.650 --> 00:24:41.058
This can be really slow and laborious work.

499
00:24:41.058 --> 00:24:44.550
To take a single cutting from one of these corals

500
00:24:44.550 --> 00:24:48.570
and plant each and every one, glue it to the sea floor

501
00:24:48.570 --> 00:24:51.440
is very time consuming, very labor intensive work.

502
00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:53.930
And so practitioners are developing techniques

503
00:24:53.930 --> 00:24:55.800
that can do this much, much faster.

504
00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:58.380
And so we'll just be able to do a lot more outplanting.

505
00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:00.210
So really important, exciting work.

506
00:25:00.210 --> 00:25:04.030
And so with that context in mind,

507
00:25:04.030 --> 00:25:06.130
we've got a massive disease event going on.

508
00:25:06.130 --> 00:25:07.372
We've got all kinds of problems

509
00:25:07.372 --> 00:25:10.200
that have been happening on our reefs for decades.

510
00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:11.270
We've got a lot of people

511
00:25:11.270 --> 00:25:12.670
interested in seeing something happen

512
00:25:12.670 --> 00:25:15.570
and there's a lot of good advancements that are occurring.

513
00:25:16.550 --> 00:25:18.410
So with that in mind,

514
00:25:18.410 --> 00:25:22.580
we launched the Mission: Iconic Reefs Initiative,

515
00:25:22.580 --> 00:25:27.580
which we felt was long overdue, frankly,

516
00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:30.780
to try to, again, turn things around

517
00:25:30.780 --> 00:25:33.200
here in the Florida Keys.

518
00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.300
So now it's time to get into a little bit of the details.

519
00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:38.284
What is Mission: Iconic Reefs?

520
00:25:38.284 --> 00:25:40.800
So you see here on the slide,

521
00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:45.350
the gray blob at the top of the slide

522
00:25:45.350 --> 00:25:47.870
is the bottom of the state of Florida.

523
00:25:47.870 --> 00:25:50.470
And so it's sort of the Everglades and Miami

524
00:25:50.470 --> 00:25:54.140
and then you see the Florida Keys in light gray,

525
00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:55.240
down through the foot.

526
00:25:56.100 --> 00:26:01.060
The seven Iconic Reef sites are the stars on the slide here.

527
00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:04.980
You can see that they represent locations

528
00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:07.070
throughout the entire Keys.

529
00:26:07.070 --> 00:26:10.610
We selected places that were as the name would suggest,

530
00:26:10.610 --> 00:26:13.370
historically iconic, places that people thought of

531
00:26:13.370 --> 00:26:16.444
as really beautiful reefs historically,

532
00:26:16.444 --> 00:26:20.130
places that reefs have thrived,

533
00:26:20.130 --> 00:26:23.860
places where we know that given the chance,

534
00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:26.410
a reef system can be really healthy here.

535
00:26:26.410 --> 00:26:29.853
So these were the seven locations that we identified.

536
00:26:31.370 --> 00:26:32.790
So Mission: Iconic Reefs

537
00:26:32.790 --> 00:26:36.360
is not just about planting more corals

538
00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.900
than we've planted before.

539
00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:41.540
It's definitely that and it's more.

540
00:26:41.540 --> 00:26:44.170
So what makes Mission: Iconic Reefs

541
00:26:44.170 --> 00:26:47.400
kind of the next level of restoration in the Florida Keys?

542
00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.410
Well, okay.

543
00:26:48.410 --> 00:26:50.410
So what we're looking at here is a map

544
00:26:50.410 --> 00:26:52.350
of one of the seven iconic reef sites.

545
00:26:52.350 --> 00:26:54.630
This is Sombrero Reef.

546
00:26:54.630 --> 00:26:56.170
And it's sort of an aerial image

547
00:26:56.170 --> 00:26:57.500
and the different colors represent

548
00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:59.640
different parts of the reef.

549
00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:02.800
So what we have done is we have gone in

550
00:27:02.800 --> 00:27:05.850
and identified different sub habitats

551
00:27:05.850 --> 00:27:08.930
within each of the seven Iconic Reef sites.

552
00:27:08.930 --> 00:27:12.870
So each color represents a different sub habitat.

553
00:27:12.870 --> 00:27:16.810
So the sort of magenta color that's at the top of that reef

554
00:27:16.810 --> 00:27:19.290
is a shallow reef crest.

555
00:27:19.290 --> 00:27:22.830
That's a specific sub habitat at Sombrero Reef.

556
00:27:22.830 --> 00:27:25.520
And then it works all the way down through the depth

557
00:27:25.520 --> 00:27:28.940
as it gets deeper down to the fore-reef terrace.

558
00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:32.970
Why is it important to distinguish these sub habitats

559
00:27:32.970 --> 00:27:35.770
at each of our seven Iconic Reef sites?

560
00:27:35.770 --> 00:27:39.900
Well, because what was expected to grow there

561
00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:44.240
is not the same thing at every part of that reef.

562
00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.780
So each of those colors

563
00:27:45.780 --> 00:27:48.510
represents a different type of habitat,

564
00:27:48.510 --> 00:27:51.150
and therefore a different coral community

565
00:27:51.150 --> 00:27:54.400
that would naturally grow at that spot.

566
00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:57.370
And so what we wanted to do is really calculate

567
00:27:57.370 --> 00:28:01.450
how much area of a given Iconic Reef site

568
00:28:01.450 --> 00:28:03.470
is these different habitat types.

569
00:28:03.470 --> 00:28:07.010
So what percent or what amount of area

570
00:28:07.010 --> 00:28:08.570
is shallow reef crest?

571
00:28:08.570 --> 00:28:10.828
What amount of area is reef crest,

572
00:28:10.828 --> 00:28:13.410
the spur and groove and fore-reef?

573
00:28:13.410 --> 00:28:17.064
Once we calculate that, then we can determine,

574
00:28:17.064 --> 00:28:19.630
under normal conditions,

575
00:28:19.630 --> 00:28:22.580
we would see a different community of corals

576
00:28:22.580 --> 00:28:24.570
living in the fore-reef

577
00:28:24.570 --> 00:28:27.340
as compared to the shallow reef crest.

578
00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:29.340
And so then we can do math and calculate,

579
00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:31.539
okay, what do we wanna outplant there,

580
00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:33.340
how much is it gonna take,

581
00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:35.060
so how much do we need to put in our nursery?

582
00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:38.650
So very intensive planning process

583
00:28:38.650 --> 00:28:42.300
went into preparing for this mission.

584
00:28:42.300 --> 00:28:44.090
And so we've got these targets,

585
00:28:44.090 --> 00:28:47.460
different species assemblages, different parts of that reef,

586
00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:51.063
so that we can determine what we need to outplant.

587
00:28:52.130 --> 00:28:53.210
And again, as I mentioned,

588
00:28:53.210 --> 00:28:55.200
not just about planting more corals,

589
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.550
although that's part of it.

590
00:28:57.870 --> 00:29:02.870
Much of what makes Mission: Iconic Reefs unusual

591
00:29:04.790 --> 00:29:07.470
is that we are also going to do

592
00:29:07.470 --> 00:29:10.790
a lot more stewardship at these sites.

593
00:29:10.790 --> 00:29:12.620
So let me explain what I mean by that.

594
00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:14.810
So because our coal reefs have declined

595
00:29:14.810 --> 00:29:19.480
to the point where there's only 2% coral cover,

596
00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:22.403
meaning only 2% of available habitat is corals.

597
00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:26.200
A lot of other species of course take advantage of that.

598
00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:28.130
And so they move right in.

599
00:29:28.130 --> 00:29:30.560
So for our corals to come back and thrive,

600
00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:32.070
we need to make space for them.

601
00:29:32.070 --> 00:29:35.110
So we've got to go out and remove some of the things

602
00:29:35.110 --> 00:29:37.530
that have overtaken the habitat

603
00:29:37.530 --> 00:29:39.240
that the corals would live on.

604
00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.510
So that's part of what we need to do.

605
00:29:40.510 --> 00:29:43.430
We need to go out and get this place ready.

606
00:29:43.430 --> 00:29:46.940
Then we add all the new corals as I noted,

607
00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.980
different assemblages,

608
00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:52.940
depending where you are on a given reef, but that's not it.

609
00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:55.080
Turns out that corals are not the only thing

610
00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:57.730
that are out of balance on our reefs.

611
00:29:57.730 --> 00:30:00.940
Also declining in recent years,

612
00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:04.810
well, in recent decades I should say, are grazers.

613
00:30:04.810 --> 00:30:07.850
So some of the species that are neighbors to our corals

614
00:30:07.850 --> 00:30:10.350
that provide a service to those corals,

615
00:30:10.350 --> 00:30:12.540
they provide a grazing service

616
00:30:12.540 --> 00:30:15.650
to keep the algae from overgrowing the corals,

617
00:30:15.650 --> 00:30:19.440
or from overgrowing all the habitat.

618
00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:22.500
So urchins, for example, and crabs,

619
00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:25.080
they will be a part of Mission: Iconic Reefs.

620
00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:28.690
They will be part of what we outplant onto this reef

621
00:30:28.690 --> 00:30:30.740
so that we can make sure that those corals

622
00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:34.130
have the friendly neighbors that they need to survive.

623
00:30:34.130 --> 00:30:37.930
We will also be doing much more attentive stewardship

624
00:30:37.930 --> 00:30:41.150
and maintenance, monitoring, and then adapting.

625
00:30:41.150 --> 00:30:43.230
Imagine you plant a garden in the spring

626
00:30:43.230 --> 00:30:44.920
in your backyard

627
00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:47.040
and you just put those plants in the ground

628
00:30:47.040 --> 00:30:49.120
and you leave them and you never do anything else.

629
00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:50.740
Well, that garden may do okay,

630
00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:52.670
but it would probably do better

631
00:30:52.670 --> 00:30:56.240
if you go out there regularly and perhaps pull some weeds,

632
00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:59.100
maybe remove some invasive species,

633
00:30:59.100 --> 00:31:00.660
give it a little extra water here and there,

634
00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:02.100
fertilize, whatever.

635
00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:04.680
Same general concept with Mission: Iconic Reefs,

636
00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:07.224
we plan to continue to go out

637
00:31:07.224 --> 00:31:09.980
and tend the garden of corals that we have planted

638
00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.780
and make sure that we are adjusting

639
00:31:11.780 --> 00:31:15.567
and adapting accordingly as we learn.

640
00:31:15.567 --> 00:31:18.620
So ambition.

641
00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:20.390
I've mentioned that repeatedly.

642
00:31:20.390 --> 00:31:24.100
Our coral cover as Kelly mentioned in the beginning

643
00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:25.340
has declined dramatically.

644
00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:29.970
We are probably at about 2% coral cover

645
00:31:29.970 --> 00:31:31.830
at these Mission: Iconic Reef sites.

646
00:31:31.830 --> 00:31:33.330
That's really low folks.

647
00:31:33.330 --> 00:31:35.680
That's really low. When we launched

648
00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:38.170
this Mission: Iconic Reefs in December of 2019,

649
00:31:38.170 --> 00:31:40.070
that was our estimate.

650
00:31:40.070 --> 00:31:43.450
So what you see on the far right side of this slide

651
00:31:43.450 --> 00:31:48.410
is our goal and that's 25% coral cover.

652
00:31:48.410 --> 00:31:51.000
We believe that if we can achieve that,

653
00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:53.760
these corals will be able to be self-sustaining.

654
00:31:53.760 --> 00:31:56.330
And not only that, they can spill over

655
00:31:56.330 --> 00:31:59.630
and seed areas outside the Mission: Iconic Reef sites.

656
00:31:59.630 --> 00:32:02.755
Because again, we don't wanna be in the business

657
00:32:02.755 --> 00:32:03.700
of planting coral forever.

658
00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:06.300
We want that coral to self-sustain.

659
00:32:06.300 --> 00:32:09.020
And so our goal will be to get it up to 25%

660
00:32:09.020 --> 00:32:11.930
and you can see we've kind of mapped out different phases

661
00:32:11.930 --> 00:32:12.763
that will get us there,

662
00:32:12.763 --> 00:32:14.880
starting with the coral species

663
00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:17.888
that we already have in production. The Acroporids

664
00:32:17.888 --> 00:32:21.330
that are not susceptible to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

665
00:32:21.330 --> 00:32:25.100
That's our immediate really intensive push with those.

666
00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:27.270
And then with time, we add more species,

667
00:32:27.270 --> 00:32:30.060
we add the grazers and ultimately hopefully,

668
00:32:30.060 --> 00:32:32.070
and you can see the timeline on this slide

669
00:32:32.070 --> 00:32:35.750
this is about 2035 is our target.

670
00:32:35.750 --> 00:32:40.040
We could speed that up as advances come into the picture,

671
00:32:40.040 --> 00:32:43.760
as more techniques are developed to do things faster.

672
00:32:43.760 --> 00:32:44.640
It could speed up.

673
00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:46.060
It could slow down if we get hit

674
00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:47.680
by another hurricane at a certain spot.

675
00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:51.830
So that is our estimate and our hope.

676
00:32:51.830 --> 00:32:56.110
So this is, I think you'll understand

677
00:32:56.110 --> 00:32:58.020
although some of the statistics on this slide

678
00:32:58.020 --> 00:33:02.420
may hit at home, a very ambitious effort.

679
00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:05.000
But we don't wanna just restore these sites

680
00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.667
and sort of tell everyone,

681
00:33:06.667 --> 00:33:07.547
"Okay, off limits.

682
00:33:07.547 --> 00:33:08.730
"Can't go there."

683
00:33:08.730 --> 00:33:11.310
This is not meant to be a museum

684
00:33:11.310 --> 00:33:12.520
or a place people can't visit.

685
00:33:12.520 --> 00:33:15.530
We want people to come, see these places,

686
00:33:15.530 --> 00:33:19.650
enjoy these places, and help support these efforts.

687
00:33:19.650 --> 00:33:22.560
And as you can see, this is a lot of work.

688
00:33:22.560 --> 00:33:24.810
three million square feet of restoration,

689
00:33:24.810 --> 00:33:27.430
which represents since that's probably hard to picture.

690
00:33:27.430 --> 00:33:28.920
It's hard for me to picture.

691
00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:33.620
15 times more restoration than we are doing today.

692
00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:36.090
And as I mentioned, we also did some calculations.

693
00:33:36.090 --> 00:33:37.260
How many corals will this be?

694
00:33:37.260 --> 00:33:39.510
Well, probably about a half a million new corals,

695
00:33:39.510 --> 00:33:41.040
so a lot of work.

696
00:33:41.040 --> 00:33:42.840
We've raised significant funds

697
00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:45.430
to support this effort already.

698
00:33:45.430 --> 00:33:48.710
Those just represent NOAA funds

699
00:33:48.710 --> 00:33:50.290
and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation,

700
00:33:50.290 --> 00:33:52.410
our nonprofit partner.

701
00:33:52.410 --> 00:33:55.330
Other partners in this are also raising funds.

702
00:33:55.330 --> 00:33:59.050
So I'm really encouraged and hopeful

703
00:33:59.050 --> 00:34:04.050
that we are going to have some important success here.

704
00:34:04.290 --> 00:34:08.355
So I'm going to pause for another poll.

705
00:34:08.355 --> 00:34:09.860
I think this is our last one.

706
00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:11.464
<v Kelly>Yes it is.</v>

707
00:34:11.464 --> 00:34:14.763
Here's the last question for you all.

708
00:34:15.990 --> 00:34:17.660
Mission: Iconic Reefs is similar

709
00:34:17.660 --> 00:34:21.360
to other restoration efforts, except in the scale.

710
00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:23.723
Is this true or false?

711
00:34:24.670 --> 00:34:26.323
Place your answers now.

712
00:34:30.550 --> 00:34:32.100
Sounds like we're at the races.

713
00:34:33.570 --> 00:34:36.290
And it's kind of neck and neck right now

714
00:34:36.290 --> 00:34:37.913
between the two responses.

715
00:34:41.070 --> 00:34:44.233
We've got 65% having voted at this point.

716
00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.773
Moving along.

717
00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:50.600
There's somebody sneaking out in the lead,

718
00:34:50.600 --> 00:34:52.300
but I won't give it away just yet.

719
00:34:59.330 --> 00:35:02.083
Got about 15 seconds left to vote.

720
00:35:04.230 --> 00:35:05.810
Do you think Mission: Iconic Reefs

721
00:35:05.810 --> 00:35:07.780
is similar to other restoration efforts

722
00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:10.090
except for the scale?

723
00:35:10.090 --> 00:35:11.706
Yes or no?

724
00:35:11.706 --> 00:35:12.539
True or false?

725
00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:21.260
Okay, we're gonna close the poll and here are the results.

726
00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:23.650
59% say true.

727
00:35:23.650 --> 00:35:25.487
It is similar except in scale

728
00:35:25.487 --> 00:35:28.173
and 41% say false.

729
00:35:29.210 --> 00:35:31.620
<v ->Interesting, interesting.</v>

730
00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:33.430
Well, it's a tricky question

731
00:35:33.430 --> 00:35:37.150
because it is definitely, definitely different

732
00:35:37.150 --> 00:35:40.910
from any previous restoration efforts in scale,

733
00:35:40.910 --> 00:35:45.810
but it also is beyond previous restoration efforts

734
00:35:45.810 --> 00:35:49.020
because we are doing things like outplanting crabs,

735
00:35:49.020 --> 00:35:53.020
Diadema, doing a lot more prep work, monitoring, et cetera.

736
00:35:53.020 --> 00:35:57.590
So it is like other efforts, only a lot bigger

737
00:35:57.590 --> 00:36:00.424
and we're building on the work

738
00:36:00.424 --> 00:36:04.430
and the advances of other projects.

739
00:36:04.430 --> 00:36:08.010
So speaking of work of others,

740
00:36:08.010 --> 00:36:12.980
I must acknowledge that this plan is being supported

741
00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:15.060
by a lot of amazing partners.

742
00:36:15.060 --> 00:36:16.640
And so you see on the slide here-

743
00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:19.980
<v Kelly>I not sure they can see your slide.</v>

744
00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:21.950
I'm still seeing the poll at my end

745
00:36:21.950 --> 00:36:23.200
and I've closed the polls,

746
00:36:23.200 --> 00:36:25.370
so I'm not sure why it's still sitting there.

747
00:36:25.370 --> 00:36:26.956
Can you look at your audience?

748
00:36:26.956 --> 00:36:28.060
<v ->I'm not sure either.</v>

749
00:36:28.060 --> 00:36:30.144
<v Kelly>Can you look at your audience view</v>

750
00:36:30.144 --> 00:36:32.020
or are you showing that your screen is showing?

751
00:36:32.020 --> 00:36:34.560
<v ->Nope, I'm seeing the poll also.</v>

752
00:36:34.560 --> 00:36:36.873
I don't have any control over that, unfortunately.

753
00:36:37.830 --> 00:36:40.250
So I'll keep talking while you're figuring that out,

754
00:36:40.250 --> 00:36:42.350
because I can describe the partners

755
00:36:42.350 --> 00:36:44.370
that are key in this effort.

756
00:36:44.370 --> 00:36:48.050
It is NOAA of course launched it,

757
00:36:48.050 --> 00:36:51.211
but the work of the Coral Restoration Foundation,

758
00:36:51.211 --> 00:36:55.260
Mote Marine Lab has been really critical.

759
00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.740
Those are the organizations

760
00:36:56.740 --> 00:36:59.810
that have been pioneering restoration here.

761
00:36:59.810 --> 00:37:01.640
We're also working with the State of Florida.

762
00:37:01.640 --> 00:37:02.530
I mentioned earlier

763
00:37:02.530 --> 00:37:04.960
the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

764
00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:08.090
We're also working with an organization called Reef Renewal.

765
00:37:08.090 --> 00:37:09.860
The University of Florida has been involved

766
00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:11.670
Florida Aquarium, The Nature Conservancy.

767
00:37:11.670 --> 00:37:15.070
So these are some of the key originating partners in this,

768
00:37:15.070 --> 00:37:18.160
but as this mission has continued,

769
00:37:18.160 --> 00:37:22.320
we have seen more and more people coming to support it.

770
00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:24.310
And Kelly, I still see just the poll,

771
00:37:24.310 --> 00:37:27.050
so I'm not quite sure what to...

772
00:37:27.050 --> 00:37:29.810
I'm gonna keep going.
<v ->Yes, please.</v>

773
00:37:29.810 --> 00:37:31.717
I'm not sure what's going on either.

774
00:37:33.511 --> 00:37:34.574
<v ->Okay.</v>

775
00:37:34.574 --> 00:37:39.574
So again, our intent here is to try to turn things around

776
00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:43.330
at these seven sites in the Florida Keys.

777
00:37:43.330 --> 00:37:47.420
And unfortunately right now, some of these sites

778
00:37:47.420 --> 00:37:52.420
are kind of known as the poster children for reef decline.

779
00:37:54.130 --> 00:37:56.250
Cariesfort Reef, for example,

780
00:37:56.250 --> 00:38:01.250
is often used as the before beautiful coral reef.

781
00:38:02.270 --> 00:38:05.910
After, not so great.

782
00:38:05.910 --> 00:38:10.800
And so our hope is that we can take action

783
00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:13.610
and these sites, these iconic sites

784
00:38:13.610 --> 00:38:18.340
can once again be some of the most beautiful places.

785
00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:21.770
And people like Marcella

786
00:38:21.770 --> 00:38:24.470
who are starting their diving career

787
00:38:24.470 --> 00:38:29.470
under these circumstances can, when they're my age,

788
00:38:29.870 --> 00:38:32.900
when she's my age, she can tell the story

789
00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:36.560
and bear witness to these things turning around.

790
00:38:36.560 --> 00:38:41.320
She can describe how these reefs were once again,

791
00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:44.780
restored and healthy, thriving, and resilient.

792
00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:46.240
That is my hope.

793
00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:47.073
That is my hope.

794
00:38:47.073 --> 00:38:50.850
Now, I'm still seeing the poll Kelly,

795
00:38:50.850 --> 00:38:52.630
but I'm gonna keep on keeping on,

796
00:38:52.630 --> 00:38:54.890
unless you tell me otherwise.

797
00:38:54.890 --> 00:38:59.750
<v Kelly>I'm gonna pull the presentation from you to me,</v>

798
00:38:59.750 --> 00:39:02.610
and then give it back to you and see if that solves it.

799
00:39:02.610 --> 00:39:04.076
<v ->Sure.</v>

800
00:39:04.076 --> 00:39:07.023
Well, I'll keep talking while you're doing that though.

801
00:39:09.050 --> 00:39:13.710
And so I don't wanna leave people with the notion

802
00:39:13.710 --> 00:39:17.010
that all we plan to do here in the Florida Keys

803
00:39:17.010 --> 00:39:18.040
to address the problems

804
00:39:18.040 --> 00:39:21.223
that we're dealing with are outplanting.

805
00:39:24.310 --> 00:39:25.170
We're just, there we go.

806
00:39:25.170 --> 00:39:26.133
Yay, it's working.

807
00:39:27.770 --> 00:39:28.603
Thank you.

808
00:39:29.520 --> 00:39:34.100
We recognize that and I don't want people to think

809
00:39:34.100 --> 00:39:37.120
we're just gonna engineer our way out of this problem.

810
00:39:37.120 --> 00:39:39.090
That is not our intention.

811
00:39:39.090 --> 00:39:42.520
We still need to pay serious attention

812
00:39:42.520 --> 00:39:45.380
to the issues that got us here.

813
00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:49.031
The really serious challenges like climate change,

814
00:39:49.031 --> 00:39:51.840
water quality issues.

815
00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:54.883
Those have to continue to be addressed

816
00:39:58.400 --> 00:40:01.600
and we can do things locally

817
00:40:01.600 --> 00:40:04.280
that can help protect these precious reefs.

818
00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:08.290
The ones that are left need extra special attention.

819
00:40:08.290 --> 00:40:10.600
And so we believe that is important

820
00:40:10.600 --> 00:40:13.310
to not only do these ambitious restoration activities,

821
00:40:13.310 --> 00:40:16.750
but also support local activities

822
00:40:16.750 --> 00:40:17.950
that can protect these reefs.

823
00:40:17.950 --> 00:40:19.750
So like the photographs you're seeing here,

824
00:40:19.750 --> 00:40:22.280
we have a mooring buoy system here in the Florida Keys

825
00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:27.280
that keeps 500 of these out in the sanctuary.

826
00:40:27.340 --> 00:40:29.520
Imagine if for the last 30 years,

827
00:40:29.520 --> 00:40:31.380
we did not have those mooring buoys there

828
00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:33.680
and people were dropping their anchors

829
00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:34.990
at all of those locations,

830
00:40:34.990 --> 00:40:36.750
what that would have done to the reefs.

831
00:40:36.750 --> 00:40:38.680
So we can continue to maintain

832
00:40:38.680 --> 00:40:40.750
and encourage people to use that system.

833
00:40:40.750 --> 00:40:44.460
We can continue to educate snorkelers, divers, fishermen

834
00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:46.570
on sustainable activities that they can do

835
00:40:46.570 --> 00:40:48.220
so they can enjoy these resources,

836
00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:51.350
but not contribute to their declines.

837
00:40:51.350 --> 00:40:53.210
Boater education, really important.

838
00:40:53.210 --> 00:40:55.930
It's really hard to navigate around here

839
00:40:55.930 --> 00:40:57.890
because these waters are really challenging.

840
00:40:57.890 --> 00:40:59.510
And so we've got a boater education class,

841
00:40:59.510 --> 00:41:00.620
we've got outreach activities,

842
00:41:00.620 --> 00:41:01.970
Marine debris cleanup.

843
00:41:01.970 --> 00:41:04.790
All of these things are things that we can do locally

844
00:41:04.790 --> 00:41:07.646
that can help these corals that are out there

845
00:41:07.646 --> 00:41:10.340
have less stress.

846
00:41:10.340 --> 00:41:13.410
Less stress means better corals.

847
00:41:13.410 --> 00:41:16.140
And so with that in mind, the sanctuary launched

848
00:41:16.140 --> 00:41:17.700
a comprehensive management plan review

849
00:41:17.700 --> 00:41:20.220
to look at all of the things that we are doing,

850
00:41:20.220 --> 00:41:21.800
what do we need to do differently

851
00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:26.040
to continue to try to take steps to protect these resources

852
00:41:26.040 --> 00:41:27.770
much like Kelly mentioned at the beginning

853
00:41:27.770 --> 00:41:30.770
that Flower Garden Banks has undertaken a process

854
00:41:30.770 --> 00:41:34.220
to do something similar in the Gulf of Mexico

855
00:41:34.220 --> 00:41:36.510
and huge congratulations to you all

856
00:41:36.510 --> 00:41:39.960
for achieving expansion and more protections

857
00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:40.890
in the Gulf of Mexico.

858
00:41:40.890 --> 00:41:42.810
That's just fantastic.

859
00:41:42.810 --> 00:41:44.840
We have been trying to do something similar,

860
00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:48.460
which is to look at how we're managing the Florida Keys.

861
00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:51.780
And we refer to this as our Restoration Blueprint.

862
00:41:51.780 --> 00:41:54.170
I'm not gonna talk about this in great detail,

863
00:41:54.170 --> 00:41:55.143
but I did just wanna mention it

864
00:41:55.143 --> 00:41:57.650
because the last thing I'd want you to think

865
00:41:57.650 --> 00:42:00.260
is that the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

866
00:42:00.260 --> 00:42:03.190
is just trying to rebuild the reef and do nothing else.

867
00:42:03.190 --> 00:42:05.200
Nothing could be further from the truth.

868
00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:09.240
We are also trying to examine all of the things that we do

869
00:42:09.240 --> 00:42:11.160
in management of the sanctuary.

870
00:42:11.160 --> 00:42:13.840
Do we need to change the boundary of the sanctuary

871
00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:15.300
to add protection?

872
00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:17.240
Do we need to change the regulations

873
00:42:17.240 --> 00:42:19.270
that apply within the entire sanctuary

874
00:42:19.270 --> 00:42:20.630
to add protections?

875
00:42:20.630 --> 00:42:23.330
We have a very extensive system of zones

876
00:42:23.330 --> 00:42:24.670
here in the Florida Keys.

877
00:42:24.670 --> 00:42:26.110
Do we need to add new zones?

878
00:42:26.110 --> 00:42:28.980
Do we need to change the regulations in those zones?

879
00:42:28.980 --> 00:42:31.420
So that has been an ongoing process.

880
00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:33.410
Got a lot of public input on that.

881
00:42:33.410 --> 00:42:36.090
We're gonna be releasing the draft rule

882
00:42:36.090 --> 00:42:39.000
in the summer, this coming summer,

883
00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:41.310
looking for more public input.

884
00:42:41.310 --> 00:42:44.844
I wanna just mention a couple of things that we anticipate

885
00:42:44.844 --> 00:42:48.637
within the draft rule

886
00:42:48.637 --> 00:42:53.637
in keeping with this notion of resiliency and restoration.

887
00:42:55.040 --> 00:42:59.110
We, as I mentioned, we still have corals out there

888
00:42:59.110 --> 00:43:03.480
that despite everything are managing to thrive and survive.

889
00:43:03.480 --> 00:43:04.530
So we need to make sure

890
00:43:04.530 --> 00:43:07.510
we're protecting those special places within the sanctuary.

891
00:43:07.510 --> 00:43:10.740
And so we have proposed new sanctuary preservation areas,

892
00:43:10.740 --> 00:43:12.790
this type of zone we have in the Keys

893
00:43:12.790 --> 00:43:14.680
to protect some of these really healthy

894
00:43:14.680 --> 00:43:17.290
and resilient reef spaces.

895
00:43:17.290 --> 00:43:21.730
And we are proposing adding some new, relatively small zones

896
00:43:21.730 --> 00:43:23.570
to support the restoration efforts

897
00:43:23.570 --> 00:43:25.120
that I've been talking about.

898
00:43:25.120 --> 00:43:27.020
So these would be special zones

899
00:43:27.020 --> 00:43:30.140
where restoration nursery activities can take place.

900
00:43:30.140 --> 00:43:33.230
So practitioners can have a protected area

901
00:43:33.230 --> 00:43:34.910
where they can grow up the corals

902
00:43:34.910 --> 00:43:38.580
that can eventually be outplanted onto the reef.

903
00:43:38.580 --> 00:43:41.280
So in addition to our ambitious plan

904
00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:42.960
with Mission: Iconic Reefs,

905
00:43:42.960 --> 00:43:45.532
we are also undertaking a lot of different activities

906
00:43:45.532 --> 00:43:48.780
to try to help give these reefs

907
00:43:48.780 --> 00:43:50.520
the best chance that they can

908
00:43:50.520 --> 00:43:54.000
to have a brighter better future.

909
00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:57.960
And with that, I am finished, Kelly

910
00:43:57.960 --> 00:44:00.993
and happy to take any questions.

911
00:44:02.140 --> 00:44:03.574
<v Kelly>Thank you.</v>

912
00:44:03.574 --> 00:44:05.190
It looks like we have about 15 minutes

913
00:44:05.190 --> 00:44:06.609
for questions and answers.

914
00:44:06.609 --> 00:44:08.340
Folks, if you haven't already,

915
00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:12.008
please put your questions into the question box

916
00:44:12.008 --> 00:44:12.841
in the control panel.

917
00:44:12.841 --> 00:44:15.765
And if you wanna see it bigger, so you can type better.

918
00:44:15.765 --> 00:44:18.350
If you click a little box with an arrow in it

919
00:44:18.350 --> 00:44:21.100
up in the gray bar of the question box,

920
00:44:21.100 --> 00:44:23.650
it'll open it up and make it bigger on your screen.

921
00:44:24.520 --> 00:44:25.370
We will go ahead

922
00:44:25.370 --> 00:44:28.310
and start reading some questions out to Sarah

923
00:44:28.310 --> 00:44:31.030
and if you, you can continue to put questions in

924
00:44:31.030 --> 00:44:33.397
and we will monitor from there.

925
00:44:33.397 --> 00:44:35.890
Depending on the number of questions that we have,

926
00:44:35.890 --> 00:44:37.460
when we run out of time,

927
00:44:37.460 --> 00:44:40.670
we may attempt to get them answered after the webinar ends

928
00:44:40.670 --> 00:44:42.050
and then email out the responses.

929
00:44:42.050 --> 00:44:44.808
But we'll have to see what kind of quantity of questions

930
00:44:44.808 --> 00:44:46.200
we're looking at.

931
00:44:46.200 --> 00:44:50.370
We've also provided some links throughout this process

932
00:44:50.370 --> 00:44:52.970
in the chat box and in response to questions

933
00:44:52.970 --> 00:44:54.260
that have already been asked.

934
00:44:54.260 --> 00:44:56.290
So some of this information can be found

935
00:44:56.290 --> 00:44:59.116
at those great links from the Florida Keys website.

936
00:44:59.116 --> 00:45:03.020
There's stuff about the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

937
00:45:03.020 --> 00:45:07.190
and the Florida Keys coral restoration efforts,

938
00:45:07.190 --> 00:45:08.290
the Mission: Iconic Reefs.

939
00:45:08.290 --> 00:45:11.900
So we've put some web links out there for you already.

940
00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:12.820
Okay.

941
00:45:12.820 --> 00:45:14.560
So starting with the first question, Sarah,

942
00:45:14.560 --> 00:45:16.640
how do you know your efforts aren't helping

943
00:45:16.640 --> 00:45:18.083
at an ecological level?

944
00:45:19.360 --> 00:45:20.620
<v ->Great question.</v>

945
00:45:20.620 --> 00:45:21.883
That's a great question.

946
00:45:22.750 --> 00:45:27.223
So with regard to the restoration activities,

947
00:45:28.130 --> 00:45:30.520
we anticipate, and in fact,

948
00:45:30.520 --> 00:45:32.690
it's funny because today we were having a conversation

949
00:45:32.690 --> 00:45:33.710
about this very thing,

950
00:45:33.710 --> 00:45:36.570
because we've established 12 to 18-month goals

951
00:45:36.570 --> 00:45:39.670
for this mission and we're having a discussion

952
00:45:39.670 --> 00:45:43.500
about how challenging it can be to measure success.

953
00:45:43.500 --> 00:45:47.980
And so I didn't go into this in great detail,

954
00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:50.510
but one of the things about Mission: Iconic Reefs

955
00:45:50.510 --> 00:45:54.100
that I think is a step forward

956
00:45:54.100 --> 00:45:56.270
as compared to the restoration efforts

957
00:45:56.270 --> 00:45:57.750
that have happened to date

958
00:45:57.750 --> 00:46:00.950
is we intend to do a lot more monitoring.

959
00:46:00.950 --> 00:46:04.790
Typically, practitioners have just not had the capacity

960
00:46:04.790 --> 00:46:08.530
to do really extensive monitoring of these outplants.

961
00:46:08.530 --> 00:46:10.700
So they might do it every six months at first,

962
00:46:10.700 --> 00:46:12.720
and then the next year.

963
00:46:12.720 --> 00:46:16.930
But what we intend to do is really intensive monitoring

964
00:46:16.930 --> 00:46:20.400
so that we can go back out there and ascertain,

965
00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:24.010
are these coral surviving and how many are surviving?

966
00:46:24.010 --> 00:46:28.080
And then what kind of community impacts are you seeing?

967
00:46:28.080 --> 00:46:29.980
In other words, are the fish returning?

968
00:46:29.980 --> 00:46:31.170
What else is happening?

969
00:46:31.170 --> 00:46:32.680
Because we know that these corals

970
00:46:32.680 --> 00:46:34.490
provide a service themselves.

971
00:46:34.490 --> 00:46:35.610
I talked about the services

972
00:46:35.610 --> 00:46:38.230
that some of their neighbors provide in terms of grazing,

973
00:46:38.230 --> 00:46:40.500
but the corals provide habitat.

974
00:46:40.500 --> 00:46:43.650
So will we see a change in the community?

975
00:46:43.650 --> 00:46:44.920
Are other fish coming back?

976
00:46:44.920 --> 00:46:46.220
Are there more fish?

977
00:46:46.220 --> 00:46:48.450
So we're gonna be doing a lot of monitoring

978
00:46:48.450 --> 00:46:49.730
so that we can measure that.

979
00:46:49.730 --> 00:46:53.470
And right now, this process being at the very beginning,

980
00:46:53.470 --> 00:46:55.750
we've got a team that is establishing,

981
00:46:55.750 --> 00:46:58.670
what is that monitoring strategy gonna look like?

982
00:46:58.670 --> 00:46:59.610
How are we gonna do it?

983
00:46:59.610 --> 00:47:00.860
What are we gonna measure

984
00:47:00.860 --> 00:47:03.150
so that we can answer those types of questions?

985
00:47:03.150 --> 00:47:04.710
'Cause I'm telling you,

986
00:47:04.710 --> 00:47:07.340
the amount of effort that's getting invested in this,

987
00:47:07.340 --> 00:47:10.570
we absolutely need to be able to be accountable.

988
00:47:10.570 --> 00:47:12.960
We need to be able to speak to the benefits

989
00:47:12.960 --> 00:47:15.130
that we're having, the effects that we're having,

990
00:47:15.130 --> 00:47:16.380
and then adapt.

991
00:47:16.380 --> 00:47:19.300
I also quickly mentioned adaptive management.

992
00:47:19.300 --> 00:47:21.320
We want to learn from what we're seeing.

993
00:47:21.320 --> 00:47:24.160
If we're not seeing the kind of success that we expect,

994
00:47:24.160 --> 00:47:27.490
or we're seeing a lot of mortality at a certain site,

995
00:47:27.490 --> 00:47:28.990
we need to be able to answer the question

996
00:47:28.990 --> 00:47:30.147
of why is that happening

997
00:47:30.147 --> 00:47:32.450
and what do we need to do differently?

998
00:47:32.450 --> 00:47:34.823
I hope that answers the question.

999
00:47:37.070 --> 00:47:39.000
<v Kelly>Alrighty, next question.</v>

1000
00:47:39.000 --> 00:47:41.240
Will you address the need for people in farms

1001
00:47:41.240 --> 00:47:44.380
to stop using pesticides and the overuse of nitrogen

1002
00:47:44.380 --> 00:47:46.733
that is draining into rivers, lakes and oceans?

1003
00:47:48.170 --> 00:47:49.755
<v ->Thank you.</v>

1004
00:47:49.755 --> 00:47:53.920
And that speaks to what we call enabling conditions.

1005
00:47:53.920 --> 00:47:56.623
That is part of what got us to this place

1006
00:47:56.623 --> 00:47:57.870
in the first place.

1007
00:47:57.870 --> 00:48:01.080
Water quality issues here in the Florida Keys

1008
00:48:01.080 --> 00:48:03.470
are really significant

1009
00:48:03.470 --> 00:48:06.910
and we've done a lot here in the Florida Keys

1010
00:48:06.910 --> 00:48:11.049
to address both local sources of water quality problems.

1011
00:48:11.049 --> 00:48:16.049
Early on, a lot of the Florida Keys was on a septic system

1012
00:48:16.220 --> 00:48:19.410
and a lot of money was invested

1013
00:48:19.410 --> 00:48:24.410
to get a sewage system in this entire community,

1014
00:48:24.690 --> 00:48:28.410
which was a huge investment, a lot of commitment

1015
00:48:28.410 --> 00:48:30.450
and a reflection of an understanding

1016
00:48:30.450 --> 00:48:33.200
that that was affecting our reef system.

1017
00:48:33.200 --> 00:48:35.590
So there's a lot of good work that's been done.

1018
00:48:35.590 --> 00:48:40.590
That said, we are at the end of a lot of water flow

1019
00:48:41.010 --> 00:48:43.390
that comes through South Florida.

1020
00:48:43.390 --> 00:48:45.610
And there's a lot of work that needs to be done

1021
00:48:45.610 --> 00:48:48.290
to clean that up, to make sure that we have

1022
00:48:48.290 --> 00:48:51.270
adequate amount of water flowing through the Everglades

1023
00:48:51.270 --> 00:48:54.240
that it's timed, so that it's the right quantity,

1024
00:48:54.240 --> 00:48:56.620
the right timing and good quality.

1025
00:48:56.620 --> 00:49:00.260
And so there's a lot of work being done on that

1026
00:49:00.260 --> 00:49:02.040
and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,

1027
00:49:02.040 --> 00:49:04.130
and our partners with these other organizations,

1028
00:49:04.130 --> 00:49:05.220
the State of Florida,

1029
00:49:05.220 --> 00:49:07.860
we're all really trying to make progress on that,

1030
00:49:07.860 --> 00:49:10.610
recognizing that we will have to continue

1031
00:49:10.610 --> 00:49:12.630
to be in the business of doing restoration

1032
00:49:12.630 --> 00:49:14.940
until we can create a system

1033
00:49:14.940 --> 00:49:16.720
where it's healthy enough

1034
00:49:16.720 --> 00:49:20.450
so that these corals can thrive on their own.

1035
00:49:20.450 --> 00:49:22.830
So again, really important.

1036
00:49:22.830 --> 00:49:24.870
Thank you for the question, because it's really important

1037
00:49:24.870 --> 00:49:26.310
that we not just focus

1038
00:49:26.310 --> 00:49:27.810
on restoration restoration restoration.

1039
00:49:27.810 --> 00:49:32.500
We've got to address these other chronic problems

1040
00:49:32.500 --> 00:49:35.400
that are causing the system to decline in the first place.

1041
00:49:37.590 --> 00:49:40.270
<v Kelly>Great, next question.</v>

1042
00:49:40.270 --> 00:49:42.240
Are you planning to use artificial reefs

1043
00:49:42.240 --> 00:49:44.293
to increase coral reef area?

1044
00:49:44.293 --> 00:49:46.140
(laughing)

1045
00:49:46.140 --> 00:49:50.703
<v ->Well, that is quite a controversial question.</v>

1046
00:49:51.580 --> 00:49:53.350
So some of you in the audience

1047
00:49:53.350 --> 00:49:55.190
may know that here in the Florida Keys,

1048
00:49:55.190 --> 00:49:58.980
we have a lot of artificial reefs.

1049
00:49:58.980 --> 00:50:03.490
We have a lot of shipwrecks that occurred by accident.

1050
00:50:03.490 --> 00:50:05.480
These, as I mentioned are treacherous waters.

1051
00:50:05.480 --> 00:50:08.450
There's been a long seafaring history here in the Keys

1052
00:50:08.450 --> 00:50:11.308
and so we have a lot of shipwrecks

1053
00:50:11.308 --> 00:50:14.240
that occurred naturally.

1054
00:50:14.240 --> 00:50:19.240
And there are a number of intentionally sunk vessels

1055
00:50:22.060 --> 00:50:23.010
in the Florida Keys.

1056
00:50:23.010 --> 00:50:24.610
Some that are quite large

1057
00:50:24.610 --> 00:50:26.210
and some of you may have heard of,

1058
00:50:26.210 --> 00:50:28.710
the Spiegel Grove, the Vandenberg,

1059
00:50:28.710 --> 00:50:31.140
they're very, very large vessels that were sunk

1060
00:50:31.140 --> 00:50:34.130
to provide fishing and diving opportunities.

1061
00:50:34.130 --> 00:50:39.130
My preference, our preference is to create natural habitats.

1062
00:50:40.040 --> 00:50:45.040
I recognize that there are benefits to diving opportunities

1063
00:50:45.630 --> 00:50:47.370
and fishing opportunities

1064
00:50:47.370 --> 00:50:51.210
by adding that kind of feature in the sanctuary.

1065
00:50:51.210 --> 00:50:55.793
However, it is not a naturally regenerating thing.

1066
00:50:57.090 --> 00:50:58.400
So you put a shipwreck down

1067
00:50:58.400 --> 00:51:00.640
and that shipwreck is just gonna be the shipwreck.

1068
00:51:00.640 --> 00:51:04.050
It's not gonna seed anything around it.

1069
00:51:04.050 --> 00:51:07.160
So the benefits will not be expanded.

1070
00:51:07.160 --> 00:51:10.660
Whereas if you focus your attention and energies

1071
00:51:10.660 --> 00:51:12.480
on natural restoration,

1072
00:51:12.480 --> 00:51:16.320
that can have long-term and expanding benefits,

1073
00:51:16.320 --> 00:51:19.890
and that's what we really wanna see more of.

1074
00:51:19.890 --> 00:51:22.380
So there are always people that are coming to us

1075
00:51:22.380 --> 00:51:27.200
wanting to propose new artificial reef habitats

1076
00:51:27.200 --> 00:51:28.752
in the Florida Keys.

1077
00:51:28.752 --> 00:51:32.970
And our job is to look at those and consider them,

1078
00:51:32.970 --> 00:51:34.954
but I will tell you that our focus

1079
00:51:34.954 --> 00:51:38.303
is on natural reef restoration.

1080
00:51:40.720 --> 00:51:42.170
<v Kelly>Thank you.</v>

1081
00:51:42.170 --> 00:51:44.630
I'm gonna kind of cluster a couple others together

1082
00:51:44.630 --> 00:51:49.630
that all have to do with building more resilient corals.

1083
00:51:49.810 --> 00:51:52.520
So have you characterized particular distinctions

1084
00:51:52.520 --> 00:51:55.363
in the resilient corals versus the susceptible ones?

1085
00:51:58.949 --> 00:52:00.470
Does this involve genetic modification

1086
00:52:00.470 --> 00:52:03.820
or traditional plant hybridization techniques?

1087
00:52:03.820 --> 00:52:07.030
And if there are, is genetic modification,

1088
00:52:07.030 --> 00:52:09.193
will you be putting GMOs on the reef?

1089
00:52:10.760 --> 00:52:13.740
<v ->So great question.</v>

1090
00:52:13.740 --> 00:52:16.730
We are so fortunate to have incredible partners

1091
00:52:16.730 --> 00:52:19.100
in this initiative.

1092
00:52:19.100 --> 00:52:21.070
Specifically Mote Marine Lab,

1093
00:52:21.070 --> 00:52:23.650
which has a facility here in the Keys

1094
00:52:23.650 --> 00:52:28.240
has done incredible research on genetics

1095
00:52:28.240 --> 00:52:32.010
and has tested different coral genotypes

1096
00:52:32.010 --> 00:52:37.010
in terms of their capacity to resist temperature stress,

1097
00:52:37.110 --> 00:52:42.110
their capacity to resist disease and other stresses.

1098
00:52:42.190 --> 00:52:47.190
The mother load would be to find basically,

1099
00:52:47.400 --> 00:52:49.960
an uber hardy coral

1100
00:52:49.960 --> 00:52:54.793
that is both resistant to diseases and temperature stress.

1101
00:52:56.393 --> 00:52:57.520
I'm not sure that we're there yet,

1102
00:52:57.520 --> 00:53:00.050
but they're definitely conducting

1103
00:53:00.050 --> 00:53:01.810
important scientific research

1104
00:53:01.810 --> 00:53:05.480
to understand which coral genotypes

1105
00:53:05.480 --> 00:53:08.440
have what kind of resistance and using that

1106
00:53:08.440 --> 00:53:11.840
to potentially explore, are there certain genotypes

1107
00:53:11.840 --> 00:53:15.380
that are gonna be able to withstand, perhaps both.

1108
00:53:15.380 --> 00:53:19.470
Now that said, it's so important that we have diversity

1109
00:53:19.470 --> 00:53:24.470
because we may find the uber resistant coral

1110
00:53:25.660 --> 00:53:29.130
that can handle current conditions, current stresses,

1111
00:53:29.130 --> 00:53:30.980
current disease outbreaks,

1112
00:53:30.980 --> 00:53:34.200
and then there's some next Coronavirus-type thing

1113
00:53:34.200 --> 00:53:35.920
that hits the reef tract.

1114
00:53:35.920 --> 00:53:37.430
So there's gotta be diversity.

1115
00:53:37.430 --> 00:53:39.610
We can't just, we have to be really careful

1116
00:53:39.610 --> 00:53:40.670
about the outplanting.

1117
00:53:40.670 --> 00:53:42.390
And that's why I mentioned quickly

1118
00:53:42.390 --> 00:53:44.450
that the practitioners are doing

1119
00:53:44.450 --> 00:53:47.210
a lot of exchanges among themselves.

1120
00:53:47.210 --> 00:53:51.395
So they wanna make sure that we don't have monoculture here.

1121
00:53:51.395 --> 00:53:55.810
So I hope I answered that question.

1122
00:53:55.810 --> 00:53:56.780
Kelly, was there more to it?

1123
00:53:56.780 --> 00:53:58.622
I feel like I didn't quite get

1124
00:53:58.622 --> 00:54:01.050
all of the aspects of the question.

1125
00:54:01.050 --> 00:54:02.120
I know there's other, sorry,

1126
00:54:02.120 --> 00:54:03.240
let me just quickly acknowledge

1127
00:54:03.240 --> 00:54:06.010
that there's other institutions in addition to Mote

1128
00:54:06.010 --> 00:54:10.508
that are doing research and including the Florida Aquarium.

1129
00:54:10.508 --> 00:54:13.450
So there's really great research

1130
00:54:13.450 --> 00:54:16.670
and that's really, really important consideration.

1131
00:54:16.670 --> 00:54:21.147
And we're also making sure that when one organization say

1132
00:54:21.147 --> 00:54:24.090
Coral Restoration Foundation takes a segment

1133
00:54:24.090 --> 00:54:26.860
of Sombrero Reef for example, to outplant,

1134
00:54:26.860 --> 00:54:31.100
making sure that we're intermingling different genotypes

1135
00:54:31.100 --> 00:54:34.470
around and we're being very, very thoughtful and careful

1136
00:54:34.470 --> 00:54:36.580
about where we're placing the corals,

1137
00:54:36.580 --> 00:54:39.480
making sure we're intermingling them, if that makes sense.

1138
00:54:40.350 --> 00:54:42.000
<v Kelly>I think that covers it.</v>

1139
00:54:43.377 --> 00:54:45.130
Can you comment on ocean warming

1140
00:54:45.130 --> 00:54:47.533
and acidification effects on this project?

1141
00:54:49.430 --> 00:54:54.300
<v ->Yep, and I'll be frank,</v>

1142
00:54:54.300 --> 00:54:58.330
we received criticism for launching this mission

1143
00:54:58.330 --> 00:55:00.266
because of those issues.

1144
00:55:00.266 --> 00:55:05.266
And there are people out there, very respected scientists

1145
00:55:05.670 --> 00:55:08.250
and who I think have a lot of experience

1146
00:55:08.250 --> 00:55:09.630
and should be listened to,

1147
00:55:09.630 --> 00:55:12.940
who are concerned that doing this kind of work

1148
00:55:13.840 --> 00:55:17.860
in the midst of continued temperature stress,

1149
00:55:17.860 --> 00:55:21.540
ocean chemistry changes, increasing intensity

1150
00:55:21.540 --> 00:55:25.380
and frequency of storms is a fool's errand.

1151
00:55:25.380 --> 00:55:28.340
And that we should not be doing this kind of work

1152
00:55:28.340 --> 00:55:30.010
under those circumstances.

1153
00:55:30.010 --> 00:55:31.607
And you heard me say before,

1154
00:55:31.607 --> 00:55:35.550
I don't believe we have the luxury of waiting.

1155
00:55:35.550 --> 00:55:37.610
I think we have to do both.

1156
00:55:37.610 --> 00:55:40.643
I think we have to take on those challenges.

1157
00:55:41.609 --> 00:55:44.207
We've got to address temperature stress.

1158
00:55:44.207 --> 00:55:46.176
We've got to address continued water quality issues here

1159
00:55:46.176 --> 00:55:50.520
and we have to give this system a chance.

1160
00:55:50.520 --> 00:55:52.730
We've got to help this system along

1161
00:55:52.730 --> 00:55:54.400
while we're fixing those things.

1162
00:55:54.400 --> 00:55:57.490
I wish we could only focus on one problem

1163
00:55:57.490 --> 00:55:58.860
and solve them sequentially.

1164
00:55:58.860 --> 00:56:00.540
That would be just delightful,

1165
00:56:00.540 --> 00:56:02.440
but it's not our reality in my opinion.

1166
00:56:02.440 --> 00:56:06.113
I think we have to take it on simultaneously.

1167
00:56:09.630 --> 00:56:11.340
<v Kelly>Fair enough.</v>

1168
00:56:11.340 --> 00:56:13.565
Are the seven sites all-

1169
00:56:13.565 --> 00:56:15.029
<v ->'Cause we like a challenge.</v>

1170
00:56:15.029 --> 00:56:17.279
(laughing)

1171
00:56:18.250 --> 00:56:19.380
<v Kelly>I'm gonna preface this.</v>

1172
00:56:19.380 --> 00:56:22.963
This will be the last question for right now with a caveat.

1173
00:56:24.040 --> 00:56:25.870
We've told people this is an hour program,

1174
00:56:25.870 --> 00:56:27.080
so we will wrap it up

1175
00:56:28.030 --> 00:56:30.180
and I have to go through some closing things

1176
00:56:30.180 --> 00:56:32.460
for everybody's benefit, but then Sarah had said

1177
00:56:32.460 --> 00:56:34.040
she would be willing to stay on

1178
00:56:34.040 --> 00:56:36.440
and answer a few more questions after.

1179
00:56:36.440 --> 00:56:39.900
So once I finish the wrap up after this question,

1180
00:56:39.900 --> 00:56:41.770
if you are interested in staying on,

1181
00:56:41.770 --> 00:56:44.720
we will give Sarah maybe another 10, 15 minutes

1182
00:56:44.720 --> 00:56:47.010
that she can continue to answer questions

1183
00:56:47.010 --> 00:56:48.550
for anyone who wishes to stay.

1184
00:56:48.550 --> 00:56:51.130
But we wanna honor the fact that we advertised this

1185
00:56:51.130 --> 00:56:52.640
as a one-hour program.

1186
00:56:52.640 --> 00:56:55.330
So this question, Sarah will be the last one

1187
00:56:55.330 --> 00:56:59.260
before I wrap things up, and then we can go onto overtime

1188
00:56:59.260 --> 00:57:00.680
if people are willing.

1189
00:57:00.680 --> 00:57:02.240
This question, are the seven sites

1190
00:57:02.240 --> 00:57:03.700
all impacted by the disease,

1191
00:57:03.700 --> 00:57:05.880
or are there any control sites in the sanctuary

1192
00:57:05.880 --> 00:57:07.493
that aren't impacted yet?

1193
00:57:08.520 --> 00:57:09.370
<v ->Great question.</v>

1194
00:57:10.350 --> 00:57:13.660
The seven sites are all in areas

1195
00:57:13.660 --> 00:57:16.480
that the disease is occurring.

1196
00:57:16.480 --> 00:57:18.940
In Florida, the only place

1197
00:57:18.940 --> 00:57:20.660
that Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

1198
00:57:20.660 --> 00:57:23.280
has not yet been confirmed.

1199
00:57:23.280 --> 00:57:25.600
Now, I will caveat that.

1200
00:57:25.600 --> 00:57:29.230
COVID has decreased the amount of diving that's happening,

1201
00:57:29.230 --> 00:57:32.540
but we have not confirmed that Stony Coral Tissue Loss

1202
00:57:32.540 --> 00:57:35.640
has reached the Tortugas.

1203
00:57:35.640 --> 00:57:38.800
And we're really hoping that that remains the case.

1204
00:57:38.800 --> 00:57:42.190
Sadly however, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

1205
00:57:42.190 --> 00:57:45.200
is now not just in Florida.

1206
00:57:45.200 --> 00:57:49.500
So I'm showing a slide here

1207
00:57:49.500 --> 00:57:54.180
that shows you where in the wider Caribbean

1208
00:57:54.180 --> 00:57:57.250
that we are seeing now, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

1209
00:57:57.250 --> 00:57:59.840
And so you can see on the table,

1210
00:57:59.840 --> 00:58:01.620
there's different years.

1211
00:58:01.620 --> 00:58:06.490
It started in Florida in 2014, and you can see in 2018,

1212
00:58:06.490 --> 00:58:07.730
there was the first sighting

1213
00:58:07.730 --> 00:58:09.750
outside of the state of Florida

1214
00:58:09.750 --> 00:58:12.500
and over the last three years,

1215
00:58:12.500 --> 00:58:15.630
there has been continued increase

1216
00:58:15.630 --> 00:58:19.030
in occurrence of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

1217
00:58:19.030 --> 00:58:20.060
throughout the Caribbean.

1218
00:58:20.060 --> 00:58:23.780
So very, very concerning.

1219
00:58:23.780 --> 00:58:26.820
I'm hoping that the Tortugas can hold out.

1220
00:58:26.820 --> 00:58:28.620
Only place in Florida that we know of

1221
00:58:28.620 --> 00:58:32.610
that may still be disease free, but as you can see,

1222
00:58:32.610 --> 00:58:35.893
it's now not just in Florida, unfortunately.

1223
00:58:37.390 --> 00:58:38.790
Thank you for your question.

1224
00:58:39.630 --> 00:58:41.100
<v ->Thank you, Sarah.</v>

1225
00:58:41.100 --> 00:58:43.430
So as I said, we're gonna wrap things up here

1226
00:58:43.430 --> 00:58:44.930
and then if you want to stay on,

1227
00:58:44.930 --> 00:58:46.270
Sarah said she'd stay on for a little while

1228
00:58:46.270 --> 00:58:48.083
and answer a few more questions.

1229
00:58:49.270 --> 00:58:51.710
So at this time, thank you for attending

1230
00:58:51.710 --> 00:58:53.310
the Seaside Chats presentation

1231
00:58:53.310 --> 00:58:54.780
on Mission: Iconic Reefs.

1232
00:58:54.780 --> 00:58:57.080
I guess I should show my screen at this point.

1233
00:58:58.800 --> 00:58:59.763
There we go.

1234
00:59:03.467 --> 00:59:04.492
Is it up there yet?

1235
00:59:04.492 --> 00:59:05.720
There we go.

1236
00:59:05.720 --> 00:59:08.130
This is the first in a series of four presentations

1237
00:59:08.130 --> 00:59:09.380
that we're offering this month

1238
00:59:09.380 --> 00:59:11.810
and we invite you to register for the next three chats

1239
00:59:11.810 --> 00:59:16.060
by visiting us on the web at flowergarden.noaa.gov

1240
00:59:16.060 --> 00:59:18.220
and Leslie will be putting that address

1241
00:59:18.220 --> 00:59:20.670
back down into the chat box for you as well.

1242
00:59:20.670 --> 00:59:22.195
So you don't necessarily

1243
00:59:22.195 --> 00:59:26.910
have to copy it off the slide right here.

1244
00:59:26.910 --> 00:59:28.360
We promise, all of our topics

1245
00:59:28.360 --> 00:59:30.600
will be just as engaging and informative.

1246
00:59:30.600 --> 00:59:32.870
So next week we invite you for Manta Rays:

1247
00:59:32.870 --> 00:59:35.620
The Mysterious Giants in Our Backyard,

1248
00:59:35.620 --> 00:59:39.580
followed by how our Gulf coast reefs are weathering storms,

1249
00:59:39.580 --> 00:59:42.660
and last but not least, Remarkable Algae.

1250
00:59:42.660 --> 00:59:45.360
It's turning out to be a really key part

1251
00:59:45.360 --> 00:59:47.970
of all these really cool, deep reef areas

1252
00:59:47.970 --> 00:59:50.200
that we've explored in the Flower Gardens

1253
00:59:50.200 --> 00:59:51.670
and in the new expansion area.

1254
00:59:51.670 --> 00:59:54.983
So that should be really interesting on February 24th.

1255
00:59:56.340 --> 00:59:59.530
If you have any questions about the Seaside Chats,

1256
00:59:59.530 --> 01:00:01.380
or this presentation,

1257
01:00:01.380 --> 01:00:03.730
we welcome your feedback and questions.

1258
01:00:03.730 --> 01:00:05.250
You can submit your input

1259
01:00:05.250 --> 01:00:07.660
by replying to the follow-up email you'll receive

1260
01:00:07.660 --> 01:00:12.660
or by emailing us directly at flowergarden@noaa.gov.

1261
01:00:14.790 --> 01:00:16.540
Today's presentation has also been part

1262
01:00:16.540 --> 01:00:19.210
of the National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series.

1263
01:00:19.210 --> 01:00:21.680
And while Seaside Chats last just one month,

1264
01:00:21.680 --> 01:00:23.780
our National Marine Webinar Series

1265
01:00:23.780 --> 01:00:25.860
continues throughout the entire year

1266
01:00:25.860 --> 01:00:27.790
to provide educators with educational

1267
01:00:27.790 --> 01:00:30.950
and scientific expertise, resources, and training

1268
01:00:30.950 --> 01:00:34.090
to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom.

1269
01:00:34.090 --> 01:00:36.440
So we know there's a bunch of you educators out there.

1270
01:00:36.440 --> 01:00:39.510
Be sure to check the website for recordings of past webinars

1271
01:00:39.510 --> 01:00:42.000
and a schedule of what's to come.

1272
01:00:42.000 --> 01:00:44.515
As a reminder, we will also share this recording

1273
01:00:44.515 --> 01:00:46.880
on the National Marine Sanctuaries website

1274
01:00:46.880 --> 01:00:48.390
and on the Flower Garden Banks

1275
01:00:48.390 --> 01:00:50.273
National Marine Sanctuary website.

1276
01:00:54.380 --> 01:00:55.440
Following this webinar,

1277
01:00:55.440 --> 01:00:57.840
all attendees will receive a PDF copy

1278
01:00:57.840 --> 01:01:00.110
of a certificate of attendance

1279
01:01:00.110 --> 01:01:01.440
that provides documentation

1280
01:01:01.440 --> 01:01:03.270
for one hour professional development

1281
01:01:03.270 --> 01:01:04.930
for today's presentation.

1282
01:01:04.930 --> 01:01:07.060
For those of you who are educators or otherwise,

1283
01:01:07.060 --> 01:01:09.150
just proof of participation.

1284
01:01:09.150 --> 01:01:10.498
There will be a short evaluation

1285
01:01:10.498 --> 01:01:12.550
that asks questions for you to answer,

1286
01:01:12.550 --> 01:01:14.500
following today's presentation.

1287
01:01:14.500 --> 01:01:15.780
Please complete this survey

1288
01:01:15.780 --> 01:01:18.070
immediately after signing off the webinar

1289
01:01:18.070 --> 01:01:21.040
and we think it'll take you about three minutes to do so.

1290
01:01:21.040 --> 01:01:23.490
We greatly appreciate all of your feedback,

1291
01:01:23.490 --> 01:01:24.920
anything you were willing to share with us

1292
01:01:24.920 --> 01:01:26.880
about this experience.

1293
01:01:26.880 --> 01:01:28.510
Now, we also wanna point out

1294
01:01:28.510 --> 01:01:30.380
that we have two handouts available

1295
01:01:30.380 --> 01:01:32.660
for the educators participating today.

1296
01:01:32.660 --> 01:01:34.050
Of course, anyone is welcome to look,

1297
01:01:34.050 --> 01:01:35.980
but these are two lesson plans.

1298
01:01:35.980 --> 01:01:39.770
One is from Florida Keys and focuses on reef restoration.

1299
01:01:39.770 --> 01:01:41.630
And the other is from the Flower Garden Banks

1300
01:01:41.630 --> 01:01:43.720
and focuses on reef monitoring.

1301
01:01:43.720 --> 01:01:45.280
And hopefully, both of these will be things

1302
01:01:45.280 --> 01:01:48.490
to help you teach about these topics in your classroom.

1303
01:01:48.490 --> 01:01:51.010
Thanks again to Sarah Fangman for a great presentation

1304
01:01:51.010 --> 01:01:52.870
about Mission: Iconic Reefs

1305
01:01:52.870 --> 01:01:54.840
and the comprehensive restoration activities

1306
01:01:54.840 --> 01:01:57.200
taking place in the Florida Keys.

1307
01:01:57.200 --> 01:01:59.732
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to join us,

1308
01:01:59.732 --> 01:02:03.513
and this concludes the main portion of our webinar.

1309
01:02:05.168 --> 01:02:06.730
At this time, if you would like to stick with us,

1310
01:02:06.730 --> 01:02:07.870
we welcome you to do so,

1311
01:02:07.870 --> 01:02:10.723
and we will run a few more questions by Sarah.

1312
01:02:11.850 --> 01:02:14.183
Sarah, if you'd like to come back on camera,

1313
01:02:15.370 --> 01:02:17.740
I think our audience would like to see you answering.

1314
01:02:17.740 --> 01:02:18.670
Thank you.

1315
01:02:18.670 --> 01:02:20.319
And let's see.

1316
01:02:20.319 --> 01:02:21.152
Where did we leave off with the question?

1317
01:02:21.152 --> 01:02:22.500
There's so many questions here, Sarah.

1318
01:02:22.500 --> 01:02:24.330
It's just unbelievable.

1319
01:02:24.330 --> 01:02:25.670
We've tried to filter through them

1320
01:02:25.670 --> 01:02:27.290
and manage as many as we can.

1321
01:02:27.290 --> 01:02:28.123
Let's see.

1322
01:02:30.830 --> 01:02:32.570
Question a couple times from different people

1323
01:02:32.570 --> 01:02:34.062
about how invasive species

1324
01:02:34.062 --> 01:02:38.613
might be affecting things in this plan.

1325
01:02:40.990 --> 01:02:42.534
<v ->Great question.</v>

1326
01:02:42.534 --> 01:02:47.534
So we have one of the most well-known invasive species

1327
01:02:48.980 --> 01:02:51.040
that we have here in the Florida Keys

1328
01:02:51.040 --> 01:02:52.390
is of course the lionfish

1329
01:02:52.390 --> 01:02:56.403
and I love that photograph of you Kelly with a lionfish.

1330
01:02:57.630 --> 01:03:00.380
And so part of our strategy

1331
01:03:00.380 --> 01:03:03.810
is the stewardship portion of Mission: Iconic Reefs

1332
01:03:03.810 --> 01:03:07.200
will include removing invasive species

1333
01:03:07.200 --> 01:03:11.550
at these iconic reef sites in a more intensive effort

1334
01:03:11.550 --> 01:03:16.150
than perhaps we have the luxury of doing normally.

1335
01:03:16.150 --> 01:03:20.450
We also see there's some corallivores

1336
01:03:20.450 --> 01:03:23.570
that eat some of these coral species.

1337
01:03:23.570 --> 01:03:26.200
So we'll probably be removing those.

1338
01:03:26.200 --> 01:03:31.150
They're not invasive, but they can be very voracious

1339
01:03:31.150 --> 01:03:32.700
on these young corals,

1340
01:03:32.700 --> 01:03:35.220
and prevent them potentially from thriving.

1341
01:03:35.220 --> 01:03:37.150
So we'll be making sure

1342
01:03:37.150 --> 01:03:41.310
that they're not just taking out the outplants that we put.

1343
01:03:41.310 --> 01:03:46.148
We believe part of the reason why we see those snails

1344
01:03:46.148 --> 01:03:51.060
being successful at consuming what we're outplanting

1345
01:03:51.060 --> 01:03:54.180
is the amount of coral food, if you will,

1346
01:03:54.180 --> 01:03:57.260
that's out there for them is so low

1347
01:03:57.260 --> 01:04:00.080
that they just sort of all hop on what's available.

1348
01:04:00.080 --> 01:04:04.010
And so as we see these corals start to come back

1349
01:04:04.010 --> 01:04:08.480
and the coral cover return to closer to normal levels,

1350
01:04:08.480 --> 01:04:10.480
the hope would be that the balance

1351
01:04:10.480 --> 01:04:11.930
would once again be restored.

1352
01:04:11.930 --> 01:04:14.690
But right now they kind of outnumber the coral,

1353
01:04:14.690 --> 01:04:16.667
and so practitioners outplant coral

1354
01:04:16.667 --> 01:04:18.503
and it can just be like a buffet.

1355
01:04:19.771 --> 01:04:21.940
And so we've got to do a little bit of that

1356
01:04:21.940 --> 01:04:23.700
to make sure that.

1357
01:04:23.700 --> 01:04:27.260
So it's a little bit of we'll getting in there

1358
01:04:27.260 --> 01:04:30.650
and kind of messing with the system a little bit,

1359
01:04:30.650 --> 01:04:33.480
but I think it is something we need to do

1360
01:04:33.480 --> 01:04:35.150
to let that system return

1361
01:04:35.150 --> 01:04:40.150
to some sort of normal equilibrium, if you will.

1362
01:04:40.510 --> 01:04:43.160
So invasive species removal is absolutely gonna be

1363
01:04:43.160 --> 01:04:45.563
a part of, and nuisance species.

1364
01:04:46.440 --> 01:04:50.241
So not necessarily invasive, but species that are providing

1365
01:04:50.241 --> 01:04:53.850
are kind of out of balance, nuisance,

1366
01:04:53.850 --> 01:04:57.210
will also be a part of our monitoring

1367
01:04:57.210 --> 01:04:59.173
and stewardship strategy.

1368
01:05:04.380 --> 01:05:05.790
<v Kelly>Well, we've had at least two people</v>

1369
01:05:05.790 --> 01:05:07.514
ask this question that I've found so far.

1370
01:05:07.514 --> 01:05:09.170
Since the Flower Gardens

1371
01:05:09.170 --> 01:05:11.900
is known for massive amounts of coral reproduction,

1372
01:05:11.900 --> 01:05:14.470
is there any chance that Flower Garden Banks corals

1373
01:05:14.470 --> 01:05:16.523
could be used to help the Florida Keys?

1374
01:05:17.500 --> 01:05:20.113
<v ->That's a really good question too.</v>

1375
01:05:21.090 --> 01:05:26.090
And at this point, we are not exploring

1376
01:05:26.090 --> 01:05:29.693
that kind of quite that drastic of a step.

1377
01:05:30.800 --> 01:05:35.800
It's definitely something that people have considered.

1378
01:05:35.860 --> 01:05:38.670
Can we move corals around at that scale?

1379
01:05:38.670 --> 01:05:41.040
I mean, I think you said it was 700 miles away.

1380
01:05:41.040 --> 01:05:42.010
Is that what you said, Kelly?

1381
01:05:42.010 --> 01:05:43.940
I can't remember what the distance is.

1382
01:05:43.940 --> 01:05:46.130
But at this time, we're being more careful.

1383
01:05:46.130 --> 01:05:48.290
Go ahead.
<v ->I think it was 790.</v>

1384
01:05:49.310 --> 01:05:51.490
<v ->Okay, a long way away.</v>

1385
01:05:51.490 --> 01:05:55.410
And so at this point, we're pretty much sticking with,

1386
01:05:55.410 --> 01:05:57.853
if we're doing any movement of corals,

1387
01:05:58.940 --> 01:06:01.570
we're staying here in the Keys

1388
01:06:01.570 --> 01:06:05.323
and in fact, in some cases, even more constraints than that.

1389
01:06:06.400 --> 01:06:08.410
So at this time we're not considering

1390
01:06:08.410 --> 01:06:10.275
something quite that drastic.

1391
01:06:10.275 --> 01:06:12.660
Hopefully we won't need to.

1392
01:06:12.660 --> 01:06:16.240
Hopefully we'll be able to work with what we have here.

1393
01:06:16.240 --> 01:06:18.093
But it's an interesting question.

1394
01:06:20.350 --> 01:06:21.848
<v Kelly>Okay, how about</v>

1395
01:06:21.848 --> 01:06:23.490
well, this one goes into a different angle.

1396
01:06:23.490 --> 01:06:24.680
Did we learn any lessons

1397
01:06:24.680 --> 01:06:27.343
from ship grounding site restoration projects?

1398
01:06:28.670 --> 01:06:30.660
<v ->Also a really, really good question.</v>

1399
01:06:30.660 --> 01:06:33.370
Yes, thank you for asking that.

1400
01:06:33.370 --> 01:06:35.360
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,

1401
01:06:35.360 --> 01:06:37.680
the restoration work that we have primarily

1402
01:06:37.680 --> 01:06:40.420
gotten involved in, much of what I've been talking about

1403
01:06:40.420 --> 01:06:42.380
has been done by practitioner partners,

1404
01:06:42.380 --> 01:06:45.440
not necessarily by the sanctuary ourself.

1405
01:06:45.440 --> 01:06:46.550
The restoration work

1406
01:06:46.550 --> 01:06:49.310
that the sanctuary has been more involved in

1407
01:06:49.310 --> 01:06:51.833
has been in response to an incident.

1408
01:06:52.760 --> 01:06:55.560
So a large vessel grounding, for example.

1409
01:06:55.560 --> 01:06:59.580
And absolutely, we have learned a lot of lessons

1410
01:06:59.580 --> 01:07:03.800
about a lot of different aspects about restoration.

1411
01:07:03.800 --> 01:07:07.130
Some of that because that's a mechanical insult,

1412
01:07:07.130 --> 01:07:08.559
if you will.

1413
01:07:08.559 --> 01:07:11.090
So something came and just broke the reef into bits.

1414
01:07:11.090 --> 01:07:12.050
Some of what we did

1415
01:07:12.050 --> 01:07:15.220
was just put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

1416
01:07:15.220 --> 01:07:17.650
So figuring out ways to successfully

1417
01:07:17.650 --> 01:07:21.570
glue that reef back together so that it could survive

1418
01:07:21.570 --> 01:07:22.720
and then learning things like,

1419
01:07:22.720 --> 01:07:25.210
how long can a coral be overturned

1420
01:07:25.210 --> 01:07:29.620
with the live tissue in the sand

1421
01:07:29.620 --> 01:07:34.510
and still be put back together and survive.

1422
01:07:34.510 --> 01:07:39.510
So a lot of the sanctuary's restoration experience

1423
01:07:39.970 --> 01:07:44.380
is in response to that kind of incident

1424
01:07:44.380 --> 01:07:46.433
where big vessels have hit the reef.

1425
01:07:48.610 --> 01:07:51.123
Fortunately, that hasn't happened lately.

1426
01:07:59.363 --> 01:08:01.964
(indistinct)

1427
01:08:01.964 --> 01:08:03.690
(laughing)

1428
01:08:03.690 --> 01:08:05.480
<v Kelly>All right, I'm scrolling through here</v>

1429
01:08:05.480 --> 01:08:08.093
and trying to find, go back to one that I saw before.

1430
01:08:10.090 --> 01:08:11.570
Will the comprehensive management plan

1431
01:08:11.570 --> 01:08:13.800
also incorporate a comprehensive education

1432
01:08:13.800 --> 01:08:17.253
and communications plan to the general public.

1433
01:08:18.700 --> 01:08:20.810
<v ->Absolutely, that is such an important part.</v>

1434
01:08:20.810 --> 01:08:23.630
In fact, during the public comment period

1435
01:08:23.630 --> 01:08:26.280
from the first version of the Restoration Blueprint,

1436
01:08:26.280 --> 01:08:30.790
which we released in August of 2019,

1437
01:08:30.790 --> 01:08:35.790
we had extensive public comment and we heard loud and clear

1438
01:08:36.190 --> 01:08:38.480
from the community in the Florida Keys

1439
01:08:38.480 --> 01:08:41.420
that they believed that in addition to water quality,

1440
01:08:41.420 --> 01:08:43.790
water quality was probably number one,

1441
01:08:43.790 --> 01:08:47.410
but close behind that was education and outreach.

1442
01:08:47.410 --> 01:08:50.920
We have millions of people that come to the Florida Keys

1443
01:08:50.920 --> 01:08:53.210
to enjoy these amazing resources.

1444
01:08:53.210 --> 01:08:54.850
It's spectacular here.

1445
01:08:54.850 --> 01:08:59.010
And I know I've described a lot of decline in our reefs

1446
01:08:59.010 --> 01:09:01.130
but it's still really beautiful

1447
01:09:01.130 --> 01:09:04.623
and there's a lot of amazing resources here to enjoy.

1448
01:09:04.623 --> 01:09:08.840
And so people recognize that we've got to make sure

1449
01:09:08.840 --> 01:09:11.450
that these people that come here to visit and enjoy,

1450
01:09:11.450 --> 01:09:13.560
and frankly, the locals too,

1451
01:09:13.560 --> 01:09:15.760
we need to make sure people understand

1452
01:09:15.760 --> 01:09:19.600
how we can enjoy these resources sustainably.

1453
01:09:19.600 --> 01:09:22.600
How we can go out and enjoy diving,

1454
01:09:22.600 --> 01:09:25.100
fishing, sailing, boating,

1455
01:09:25.100 --> 01:09:28.840
and do it in a way that has the least possible

1456
01:09:28.840 --> 01:09:30.680
potential negative impact.

1457
01:09:30.680 --> 01:09:33.610
And so absolutely our strategy includes

1458
01:09:33.610 --> 01:09:36.033
important outreach and education activities.

1459
01:09:36.920 --> 01:09:38.320
Thanks for bringing that up.

1460
01:09:39.180 --> 01:09:40.243
<v Kelly>You're welcome.</v>

1461
01:09:43.130 --> 01:09:45.080
Can you talk more about improvements

1462
01:09:45.080 --> 01:09:46.940
in outplanting techniques

1463
01:09:46.940 --> 01:09:48.793
to match the scale of this project?

1464
01:09:49.810 --> 01:09:51.090
<v ->Yeah, yeah.</v>

1465
01:09:51.090 --> 01:09:52.900
One of the things that we're looking at,

1466
01:09:52.900 --> 01:09:55.023
it's kind of interesting, and that is,

1467
01:09:56.010 --> 01:09:57.520
you might've noticed

1468
01:09:57.520 --> 01:09:58.840
if you're not familiar with restoration,

1469
01:09:58.840 --> 01:10:00.450
you might not have fully known what you're looking at.

1470
01:10:00.450 --> 01:10:01.860
But one of the ways

1471
01:10:01.860 --> 01:10:05.960
that these corals are grown in the nursery

1472
01:10:05.960 --> 01:10:07.823
is they've got these, what we call trees.

1473
01:10:07.823 --> 01:10:10.380
And so they're vertical in the water column

1474
01:10:10.380 --> 01:10:12.180
and they've got branches if you will.

1475
01:10:12.180 --> 01:10:14.510
They're made usually of PVC,

1476
01:10:14.510 --> 01:10:17.330
but the PVC pipes have little bits of coral

1477
01:10:17.330 --> 01:10:18.430
hanging off from them.

1478
01:10:18.430 --> 01:10:21.420
They have learned that growing those corals

1479
01:10:21.420 --> 01:10:25.440
happens more quickly and effectively

1480
01:10:25.440 --> 01:10:28.840
when the corals are suspended in the water columns,

1481
01:10:28.840 --> 01:10:29.710
a lot of reasons for that.

1482
01:10:29.710 --> 01:10:31.980
But what they then do

1483
01:10:31.980 --> 01:10:35.200
is cut off cutting little clips of them,

1484
01:10:35.200 --> 01:10:37.320
of the corals that they're growing on the trees

1485
01:10:37.320 --> 01:10:40.020
and carry them in a basket out to the reef

1486
01:10:40.020 --> 01:10:40.853
and glue them down.

1487
01:10:40.853 --> 01:10:42.190
That's very time consuming.

1488
01:10:42.190 --> 01:10:46.900
So what they're starting to do is grow them on hemp ropes.

1489
01:10:46.900 --> 01:10:51.900
So those corals grow on a rope and then they take that rope,

1490
01:10:51.910 --> 01:10:54.570
the entire rope, and it could have 100 corals on it.

1491
01:10:54.570 --> 01:10:58.080
A bunch of corals instead of doing one by one by one,

1492
01:10:58.080 --> 01:11:01.890
gluing each little coral fragment on the sea floor,

1493
01:11:01.890 --> 01:11:06.130
they take that rope and they lay it down on the reef,

1494
01:11:06.130 --> 01:11:07.630
so it was growing up in the water column,

1495
01:11:07.630 --> 01:11:09.440
we lay it down with all its corals

1496
01:11:09.440 --> 01:11:13.560
and those corals will naturally adhere to the sea floor.

1497
01:11:13.560 --> 01:11:15.110
And so they can adhere some of it,

1498
01:11:15.110 --> 01:11:17.370
but then they will continue to adhere to the sea floor,

1499
01:11:17.370 --> 01:11:21.140
that hemp rope will disappear because it will biodegrade.

1500
01:11:21.140 --> 01:11:24.195
So that makes it so much faster

1501
01:11:24.195 --> 01:11:26.960
than taking each and every single little coral

1502
01:11:26.960 --> 01:11:30.110
and gluing it down, which is certainly a labor of love,

1503
01:11:30.110 --> 01:11:31.690
not particularly efficient.

1504
01:11:31.690 --> 01:11:33.970
So this is an example of one technique

1505
01:11:33.970 --> 01:11:37.383
that's being developed to help really speed up that process.

1506
01:11:41.080 --> 01:11:44.200
<v Kelly>Okay, we're gonna take two more questions.</v>

1507
01:11:44.200 --> 01:11:46.140
One, we're getting a lot of questions

1508
01:11:46.140 --> 01:11:51.140
about the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

1509
01:11:51.460 --> 01:11:53.610
You gotta keep all those things in the right order.

1510
01:11:53.610 --> 01:11:55.950
Can you talk a little bit more

1511
01:11:55.950 --> 01:12:00.370
about how it's affecting other areas beyond the Florida Keys

1512
01:12:00.370 --> 01:12:02.090
and what kinds of things you've been trying

1513
01:12:02.090 --> 01:12:03.540
to try and defeat this thing.

1514
01:12:04.740 --> 01:12:05.830
<v ->Great question also.</v>

1515
01:12:05.830 --> 01:12:10.830
So as I mentioned, we have a massive effort

1516
01:12:10.950 --> 01:12:12.490
that has been underway

1517
01:12:12.490 --> 01:12:14.640
since this disease was really recognized

1518
01:12:14.640 --> 01:12:16.723
and started flaring up in 2014.

1519
01:12:17.610 --> 01:12:20.660
And there's been a tremendous amount of research done

1520
01:12:20.660 --> 01:12:21.973
to try to understand it.

1521
01:12:22.840 --> 01:12:24.914
Techniques tried to intervene,

1522
01:12:24.914 --> 01:12:27.700
but the problem is once again,

1523
01:12:27.700 --> 01:12:32.450
it's a scale and labor intensity issue.

1524
01:12:32.450 --> 01:12:35.470
So one of the intervention techniques that we have learned

1525
01:12:35.470 --> 01:12:40.470
can be effective is applying antibiotics with a paste

1526
01:12:42.250 --> 01:12:46.380
directly onto the tissue of the coral, the disease margin.

1527
01:12:46.380 --> 01:12:48.250
So the disease, you may remember

1528
01:12:48.250 --> 01:12:51.230
the pictures I showed of the diseased corals.

1529
01:12:51.230 --> 01:12:54.760
They can have a little spot, a blotch is how it might start.

1530
01:12:54.760 --> 01:12:59.760
And so if you apply a paste with antibiotics in that paste

1531
01:13:01.430 --> 01:13:06.130
on that margin, it can help to slow

1532
01:13:06.130 --> 01:13:08.980
or even stop the disease from progressing.

1533
01:13:08.980 --> 01:13:10.580
So that's great.

1534
01:13:10.580 --> 01:13:13.830
But imagine how much time that takes.

1535
01:13:13.830 --> 01:13:16.840
Imagine how many corals there are in the Florida Keys.

1536
01:13:16.840 --> 01:13:21.000
Imagine it's affecting half of the species here.

1537
01:13:21.000 --> 01:13:23.200
To do that on every single coral,

1538
01:13:23.200 --> 01:13:24.740
and by the way, you might've also noticed

1539
01:13:24.740 --> 01:13:26.940
some of those pictures of the diseased corals,

1540
01:13:26.940 --> 01:13:28.980
there's all kinds of blotches.

1541
01:13:28.980 --> 01:13:31.520
And so these, again, dedicated,

1542
01:13:31.520 --> 01:13:35.730
so dedicated researchers that are doing this,

1543
01:13:35.730 --> 01:13:40.660
go out and laboriously, they cut a trench with a tool,

1544
01:13:40.660 --> 01:13:44.930
they make a, basically a firebreak around the disease tissue

1545
01:13:44.930 --> 01:13:46.640
and then they apply that paste.

1546
01:13:46.640 --> 01:13:48.610
I mean, can you imagine how much time that takes?

1547
01:13:48.610 --> 01:13:51.030
So it's just not possible for us to do that

1548
01:13:51.030 --> 01:13:52.440
for every affected coral.

1549
01:13:52.440 --> 01:13:55.530
So we're focusing that on the really susceptible species.

1550
01:13:55.530 --> 01:13:57.680
We're focusing that on some of the big mamas,

1551
01:13:57.680 --> 01:13:59.980
the ones that are gonna be the most reproductive.

1552
01:13:59.980 --> 01:14:02.210
So we're trying to be strategic about the corals

1553
01:14:02.210 --> 01:14:03.240
that we're trying to save,

1554
01:14:03.240 --> 01:14:05.020
knowing that we can't save them all.

1555
01:14:05.020 --> 01:14:06.930
The other thing I'll quickly mention that we're doing

1556
01:14:06.930 --> 01:14:10.730
in terms of response is the rescue effort.

1557
01:14:10.730 --> 01:14:13.230
And I mentioned this briefly before,

1558
01:14:13.230 --> 01:14:15.660
but I think it's worth repeating because it's, to me

1559
01:14:15.660 --> 01:14:17.070
pretty mind blowing.

1560
01:14:17.070 --> 01:14:19.360
But essentially we're creating a Noah's Ark

1561
01:14:19.360 --> 01:14:21.600
of Florida Keys corals.

1562
01:14:21.600 --> 01:14:23.490
We are actively going out

1563
01:14:23.490 --> 01:14:25.280
and when we first started thinking about this,

1564
01:14:25.280 --> 01:14:27.670
I'm telling you, it was kind of mind blowing

1565
01:14:27.670 --> 01:14:29.650
to be a reef manager and think,

1566
01:14:29.650 --> 01:14:31.720
we're gonna go and remove corals.

1567
01:14:31.720 --> 01:14:34.440
I mean, how many of you have been taught,

1568
01:14:34.440 --> 01:14:36.020
don't even touch a coral?

1569
01:14:36.020 --> 01:14:39.870
We'll take a a chisel to it and pull it off the reef

1570
01:14:39.870 --> 01:14:42.880
was just sort of hard to imagine.

1571
01:14:42.880 --> 01:14:44.500
But it was something we were forced to do

1572
01:14:44.500 --> 01:14:46.710
because we recognize this disease

1573
01:14:46.710 --> 01:14:48.600
was moving through the Florida Keys.

1574
01:14:48.600 --> 01:14:50.810
And as I mentioned, some of these species

1575
01:14:50.810 --> 01:14:53.810
are 100% mortality if they get it.

1576
01:14:53.810 --> 01:14:55.930
And so we had to get ahead of that,

1577
01:14:55.930 --> 01:14:57.010
collect some of those

1578
01:14:57.010 --> 01:15:00.983
so that we have some remaining examples of these species

1579
01:15:00.983 --> 01:15:03.360
so that we could put them into zoos and aquarium.

1580
01:15:03.360 --> 01:15:04.193
In some cases,

1581
01:15:04.193 --> 01:15:06.410
species that have never been held in captivity.

1582
01:15:06.410 --> 01:15:08.470
So these practitioners were learning

1583
01:15:08.470 --> 01:15:12.570
how to keep these things alive and hold them in captivity

1584
01:15:12.570 --> 01:15:15.620
so that we could hope to one day put them back on the reef

1585
01:15:15.620 --> 01:15:18.560
so we wouldn't lose them entirely as a result of this.

1586
01:15:18.560 --> 01:15:23.100
So that's a massive effort, really incredible partners,

1587
01:15:23.100 --> 01:15:24.780
zoos and aquaria across the country

1588
01:15:24.780 --> 01:15:26.616
that are supporting that effort

1589
01:15:26.616 --> 01:15:29.810
because they believe in the importance

1590
01:15:29.810 --> 01:15:32.960
of preserving the reef tract in Florida.

1591
01:15:32.960 --> 01:15:34.763
So huge shout out to all of them.

1592
01:15:37.604 --> 01:15:38.437
<v Kelly>And one last question.</v>

1593
01:15:38.437 --> 01:15:40.210
I think this is a great one to close on.

1594
01:15:40.210 --> 01:15:43.250
A lot of people are asking, how can they get involved?

1595
01:15:43.250 --> 01:15:45.170
How can they help with restoration efforts?

1596
01:15:45.170 --> 01:15:46.680
How can they volunteer?

1597
01:15:46.680 --> 01:15:47.930
Are there internships?

1598
01:15:47.930 --> 01:15:50.140
All these different kinds of questions.

1599
01:15:50.140 --> 01:15:51.680
<v ->Great.</v>

1600
01:15:51.680 --> 01:15:54.993
So absolutely we need all the help we can get.

1601
01:15:56.060 --> 01:15:57.420
Everything else COVID is putting

1602
01:15:57.420 --> 01:15:58.910
a little bit of a wrinkle on that,

1603
01:15:58.910 --> 01:16:02.040
so many of the volunteer opportunities have been curtailed,

1604
01:16:02.040 --> 01:16:03.656
but have patience.

1605
01:16:03.656 --> 01:16:07.170
You saw that this is a 20 plus year project,

1606
01:16:07.170 --> 01:16:10.240
so even if we can't take you as a volunteer tomorrow,

1607
01:16:10.240 --> 01:16:11.670
there will be plenty for you to do.

1608
01:16:11.670 --> 01:16:14.410
We are developing stewardship programs

1609
01:16:14.410 --> 01:16:16.500
that will involve volunteers.

1610
01:16:16.500 --> 01:16:20.230
So that if you are a diver or snorkeler even,

1611
01:16:20.230 --> 01:16:23.450
you can help support us and help get out on these spots

1612
01:16:23.450 --> 01:16:27.290
potentially and help us do this important work.

1613
01:16:27.290 --> 01:16:28.760
If that's not your thing

1614
01:16:28.760 --> 01:16:31.120
and if you live in Minnesota, like I did,

1615
01:16:31.120 --> 01:16:33.070
you can support these organizations.

1616
01:16:33.070 --> 01:16:36.330
So as I mentioned, the Mote Marine Lab,

1617
01:16:36.330 --> 01:16:38.080
Coral Restoration Foundation,

1618
01:16:38.080 --> 01:16:40.990
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Reef Renewal.

1619
01:16:40.990 --> 01:16:43.440
Go to our website and you can see who's involved in,

1620
01:16:43.440 --> 01:16:46.360
if you wanna support them, writing letters

1621
01:16:46.360 --> 01:16:48.580
or getting involved in what they're doing,

1622
01:16:48.580 --> 01:16:51.060
they are the heroes of this effort

1623
01:16:51.060 --> 01:16:53.250
and they are always looking for ways

1624
01:16:53.250 --> 01:16:54.560
for people to get involved

1625
01:16:54.560 --> 01:16:57.410
and there's lots of information on their websites.

1626
01:16:57.410 --> 01:17:00.600
So I guess I would start with that.

1627
01:17:00.600 --> 01:17:02.343
And then just speaking out,

1628
01:17:02.343 --> 01:17:04.977
telling people in your community,

1629
01:17:04.977 --> 01:17:09.290
telling legislators that these places matter

1630
01:17:09.290 --> 01:17:11.540
and that we need to do something to protect them.

1631
01:17:11.540 --> 01:17:13.390
That's really, really important.

1632
01:17:13.390 --> 01:17:14.710
As you saw in one of the slides,

1633
01:17:14.710 --> 01:17:16.790
a senator from the state of Florida

1634
01:17:16.790 --> 01:17:18.620
is paying attention to this.

1635
01:17:18.620 --> 01:17:22.070
So he knows that people care about this.

1636
01:17:22.070 --> 01:17:24.480
Hopefully, that will continue to encourage

1637
01:17:24.480 --> 01:17:26.350
his support for this kind of work.

1638
01:17:29.910 --> 01:17:31.400
<v Kelly>Thank you, Sarah.</v>

1639
01:17:31.400 --> 01:17:33.400
I believe that wraps it up for tonight.

1640
01:17:33.400 --> 01:17:34.677
There were still a few other questions

1641
01:17:34.677 --> 01:17:37.810
and we may see if we can answer those in the week to come,

1642
01:17:37.810 --> 01:17:40.990
but we really appreciate your willingness to stay after

1643
01:17:40.990 --> 01:17:42.050
and continue answering questions.

1644
01:17:42.050 --> 01:17:44.170
We still have over 100 people online

1645
01:17:44.170 --> 01:17:45.520
through the additional Q&amp;A.

1646
01:17:47.030 --> 01:17:48.570
<v ->Wow, thank you.</v>

1647
01:17:48.570 --> 01:17:50.250
<v Kelly>So thank you such for your participation.</v>

1648
01:17:50.250 --> 01:17:53.170
Everyone out there, thank you so much for joining us.

1649
01:17:53.170 --> 01:17:54.760
We hope we will continue to see you

1650
01:17:54.760 --> 01:17:57.170
over the next three weeks to come

1651
01:17:57.170 --> 01:17:59.440
for the other three Seaside Chats,

1652
01:17:59.440 --> 01:18:01.860
and we appreciate all of your interest in everything

1653
01:18:01.860 --> 01:18:04.670
that this National Marine Sanctuary Program is doing.

1654
01:18:04.670 --> 01:18:05.840
Thank you everyone.

1655
01:18:05.840 --> 01:18:07.403
Have a good evening.

1656
01:18:07.403 --> 01:18:08.690
<v ->Thank you.</v>

1657
01:18:08.690 --> 01:18:09.523
Bye now.