NOAA awards $472,750 for study of V.I. reefs

The Virgin Islands Daily News  ::  Daily News Staff

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources a $472,750 formula grant to continue work on coral reef management.

The money will provide funding to support both the St. Croix East End Marine Park and a growing territorial coral reef initiative, according to the grant proposal.

The 18-month grant period will start Oct. 1.

The grant will provide funding for personnel to coordinate the coral reef initiative and to staff the marine park.

Projects under the initiative include developing and implementing interagency response plans to emerging coral reef threats. Those threats include the invasive Pacific lionfish — which biologists fear could wreak havoc on the delicate balance of coral reef ecosystems — vessel groundings on coral reefs, and sediment runoff.

Educational programs aimed at achieving improved coral reef health in the territory through better understanding and stewardship also are included in the grant proposal.

According to the grant application, the territory is about two-thirds of the way through setting its coral reef management priorities.

DPNR also hopes to expand the number of St. Croix East End Marine Park staff positions, increase the visibility of St. Croix East End Marine Park programs, expand outreach and education efforts, and develop sustainable tourism markets to support a growing system of territorial marine parks.