Title: TWO NMFS CONSULTATION CASE STUDIES IN PACIFIC AND CARIBBEAN CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS TO AVOID AND MINIMIZE CORAL REEF IMPACTS

Abstract: In both the U.S. Pacific Islands and the Caribbean, natural resource agencies review water resource development projects proposed along the coast. A growing interest in renewable energy production and telecommunication installations in the Pacific and Caribbean Islands has led to a number of permit applications for new types of projects that include construction offshore. The first case study, the Honolulu Air Conditioning Project, is an example of an innovative renewable energy project that proposes to draw cold water from deep offshore waters and pipe it to land to help generate air conditioning for buildings in downtown Honolulu. Resource agencies were concerned about the associated proposed discharge of very large amounts of the cold, nutrient-rich return water to the nearshore coral reef environment. Through early consultation with the permitting entities and natural resource agencies the applicant redesigned the project to discharge return water in deep waters outside the depth range of coral reef habitat. The second case study focuses on two sites in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that are hubs for submarine cable projects connecting the Caribbean, South America, and the continental U.S. NOAA Fisheries has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create standard conditions for submarine cable projects due to the increase in submarine cable projects in the U.S. Caribbean over the last 15 years, the listing of 7 Atlantic coral species under the Endangered Species Act, and the importance of shallow and mesophotic reef systems as fishery and coral habitat along many cable routes. Standard conditions related to survey methods to establish temporary anchorage areas and site the cable routes in shallow and deep water and cable laying requirements to minimize potential coral impacts have been developed. The outcomes of these consultations have led to a reduction in damage to coral resources, while allowing economic growth to continue in the U.S. Caribbean and Pacific.

Authors: Jayewardene DC, Carrubba L

Presentation: Oral

Session: 75

Date: 06/20/16

Time: 14:45

Location: 303 A/B

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