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Historic Inventory of Acropora Around Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Published by GEOS Environmental, Inc. | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 01, 2026 at 07:42 AM | Dataset Last Updated: November 09, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Atlantic acroporid corals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 on May 9, 2006, and a 4(d) rule was final on October 29, 2008, applying all Section 9 prohibitions of the ESA for the protection of elkhorn and staghorn corals with some limited exceptions, such as for emergency restoration. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to list an additional 83 species of corals, 8 of which occur in the Atlantic and Caribbean, under the ESA on October 20, 2009. NMFS completed a 90-day finding and determined that a status review was merited for 7 of the 8 species occurring in the Atlantic and Caribbean. In order to address a priority in the draft Recovery Plan for threatened elkhorn and staghorn corals; specifically, to compile a historic inventory of the presence and distribution of elkhorn and staghorn corals throughout their range in Florida, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), NMFS submitted a proposal to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The project also addresses a priority identified by managers in Puerto Rico and USVI that was expressed as part of the CREIOS meeting held in Puerto Rico in May 2009. The information will support recovery priorities for Atlantic acroporid corals such as reducing potential fishing, recreational, and coastal development impacts to these corals. In addition to data on Atlantic acroporid coral presence, data on the seven species of corals undergoing a status review will also be compiled. These data will be useful in the listing decision, as well as for any rule-making or recovery actions should some or all of these species be listed. The proposal was funded by CRCP and NMFS contracted GEOS Environmental, Inc. following a bidding process. The database was generated from a search of scientific studies, development projects, agency reports, and other information to obtain data on historic presence of Atlantic acroporid corals around Puerto Rico and USVI. A separate database was also created from the results of interviews with divers in Puerto Rico and USVI. The project benefits listed corals by providing a historic inventory of where these corals were found in the past to guide recovery planning efforts toward better defining critical habitat areas and priority sites for recovery. In addition, the project will benefit USVI and Puerto Rico management actions to restrict coastal development in areas identified as priorities for recovery, including restrictions on in-water construction and impacts such as sediment transport. The data will also provide useful for siting of monitoring activities and the establishment of regulatory or management initiatives.

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CoRIS_Metadata Historic Inventory of Acropora Around Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands 20541 Acropora cervicornis > staghorn coral Acropora palmata > elkhorn coral Montastraea annularis > lobed star coral Montastraea faveolata > mountainous star coral Montastraea franksi > knobby star coral

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "GEOS Environmental, Inc.",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:jfuhr@geosenvironmental.com"
}
describedByType application/octet-steam
description Atlantic acroporid corals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 on May 9, 2006, and a 4(d) rule was final on October 29, 2008, applying all Section 9 prohibitions of the ESA for the protection of elkhorn and staghorn corals with some limited exceptions, such as for emergency restoration. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to list an additional 83 species of corals, 8 of which occur in the Atlantic and Caribbean, under the ESA on October 20, 2009. NMFS completed a 90-day finding and determined that a status review was merited for 7 of the 8 species occurring in the Atlantic and Caribbean. In order to address a priority in the draft Recovery Plan for threatened elkhorn and staghorn corals; specifically, to compile a historic inventory of the presence and distribution of elkhorn and staghorn corals throughout their range in Florida, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), NMFS submitted a proposal to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The project also addresses a priority identified by managers in Puerto Rico and USVI that was expressed as part of the CREIOS meeting held in Puerto Rico in May 2009. The information will support recovery priorities for Atlantic acroporid corals such as reducing potential fishing, recreational, and coastal development impacts to these corals. In addition to data on Atlantic acroporid coral presence, data on the seven species of corals undergoing a status review will also be compiled. These data will be useful in the listing decision, as well as for any rule-making or recovery actions should some or all of these species be listed. The proposal was funded by CRCP and NMFS contracted GEOS Environmental, Inc. following a bidding process. The database was generated from a search of scientific studies, development projects, agency reports, and other information to obtain data on historic presence of Atlantic acroporid corals around Puerto Rico and USVI. A separate database was also created from the results of interviews with divers in Puerto Rico and USVI. The project benefits listed corals by providing a historic inventory of where these corals were found in the past to guide recovery planning efforts toward better defining critical habitat areas and priority sites for recovery. In addition, the project will benefit USVI and Puerto Rico management actions to restrict coastal development in areas identified as priorities for recovery, including restrictions on in-water construction and impacts such as sediment transport. The data will also provide useful for siting of monitoring activities and the establishment of regulatory or management initiatives.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "format": "EXCEL",
    "mediaType": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
    "downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/coris/data/NOAA/nmfs/20451/Historic_Acropora_Inventory_Spreadsheet_corrected.xlsx",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "format": "EXCEL",
    "mediaType": "application/vnd.ms-excel",
    "downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/coris/data/NOAA/nmfs/20451/dive_shop_interview_results_corrected.xls",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  }
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identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/coris/fgdc/iso/xml/metadata_historic_corals_revised_v2_ISO.xml
issued 2011-11-09T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
[
  "CoRIS_Metadata",
  "Historic Inventory of Acropora Around Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands",
  "20541",
  "Acropora cervicornis > staghorn coral",
  "Acropora palmata > elkhorn coral",
  "Montastraea annularis > lobed star coral",
  "Montastraea faveolata > mountainous star coral",
  "Montastraea franksi > knobby star coral",
  "Dendrogyra cylindrus > pillar coral",
  "Mycetophyllia ferox > rough cactus coral",
  "Agaricia lamarcki > Lamarck?s sheet coral",
  "Dichocoenia stokesii > elliptical star coral",
  "Geographic Information > Reef Locations",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment",
  "St. Thomas",
  "St. Croix",
  "St. John",
  "St. Thomas/St. John",
  "Vega Baja",
  "Toa Baja",
  "Carolina",
  "Loiza",
  "Rio Grande",
  "San Juan",
  "Ceiba",
  "Naguabo",
  "Humacao",
  "Yabucoa",
  "Luquillo",
  "Salinas/Guayama",
  "Arecibo",
  "Guayanilla/Penuelas",
  "Desecheo Island",
  "Rincon",
  "Culebra",
  "Patillas",
  "Maunabo",
  "Dorado/Toa Baja",
  "Catano",
  "Dorado",
  "Salinas",
  "Isabela",
  "Cabo Rojo",
  "Guayanilla",
  "Ponce",
  "Lajas",
  "Mona Island",
  "Mayaguez",
  "Fajardo",
  "Aguadilla",
  "Guanica",
  "Penuelas",
  "Vieques",
  "Guayama",
  "Santa Isabel",
  "Manati",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Virgin Islands > St. John (18N064W0011)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. John > St. John (18N064W0011)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Thomas > St. Thomas (18N064W0033)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Leeward Islands > St. Thomas (18N064W0033)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > St. Croix (17N064W0003)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Virgin Islands > St. Croix (17N064W0003)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Vieques Island > Vieques Island (18N065W0002)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Vieques > Vieques Island (18N065W0002)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Isla de Mona (18N067W0002)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Isla de Mona (18N067W0002)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Dorado (18N066W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Dorado (18N066W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > San Juan (18N066W0005)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > San Juan > San Juan (18N066W0005)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Rincon (18N067W0011)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Rincon (18N067W0011)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Isla de Desecheo (18N067W0007)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Isla de Desecheo (18N067W0007)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Ceiba (18N065W0003)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Ceiba (18N065W0003)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Fajardo (18N065W0004)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Fajardo (18N065W0004)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Mayaguez (18N067W0010)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Mayaguez (18N067W0010)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Isabela (18N067W0009)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Isabela (18N067W0009)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Cabo Rojo (18N067W0008)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Cabo Rojo (18N067W0008)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Manati (18N066W0008)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Manati (18N066W0008)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Salinas (17N066W0011)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Salinas (17N066W0011)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Santa Isabel (17N066W0004)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Santa Isabel (17N066W0004)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Patillas (17N065W0009)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Patillas (17N065W0009)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Lajas (17N067W0012)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Lajas (17N067W0012)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Aguadilla (18N067W0012)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Aguadilla (18N067W0012)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Guanica (17N066W0005)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Guanica (17N066W0005)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Penuelas (17N066W0006)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Penuelas (17N066W0006)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Guayanilla (17N066W0007)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Guayanilla (17N066W0007)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Vega Baja (18N066W0010)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Vega Baja (18N066W0010)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Catano (18N066W0011)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Catano (18N066W0011)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Guayama (17N066W0008)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Guayama (17N066W0008)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Toa Baja (18N066W0012)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Toa Baja (18N066W0012)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Carolina (18N065W0013)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Carolina (18N065W0013)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Loiza (18N065W0006)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Loiza (18N065W0006)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Rio Grande (18N065W0007)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Rio Grande (18N065W0007)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Naguabo (18N065W0008)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Naguabo (18N065W0008)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Humacao (18N065W0009)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Humacao (18N065W0009)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Yabucoa (18N065W0010)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Yabucoa (18N065W0010)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Arecibo (18N066W0014)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Arecibo (18N066W0014)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Lajas > La Parguera (17N067W0013)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Lajas > La Parguera (17N067W0013)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Salinas > Jobos Bay (Bahia de Jobos) (17N066W0009)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Salinas > Jobos Bay (Bahia de Jobos) (17N066W0009)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Culebra Island (18N065W0011)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Culebra Island (18N065W0011)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Luquillo (18N065W0012)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Luquillo (18N065W0012)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Ponce (17N066W0010)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Ponce (17N066W0010)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Maunabo (17N065W0002)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Maunabo (17N065W0002)",
  "PR",
  "USVI"
]
language 
[]
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2011-11-09T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "GEOS Environmental, Inc.",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
rights otherRestrictions, unclassified
spatial -64.04,17.27,-67.98,18.51
temporal 1965-12-13T00:00:00+00:00/2011-03-28T00:00:00+00:00
theme 
[
  "geospatial"
]
title Historic Inventory of Acropora Around Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

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