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Though concentrations of healthy coral and schooling fish have dramatically declined at the Oculina Banks since their discovery in 1975 by HARBOR BRANCH, a NOAA- funded spring 2003 cruise to explore the area's deepwater reefs revealed new information that bodes well for the future of this vital habitat. Some 35 miles of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives during the expedition did reveal disturbing swaths of coral reduced to rubble and thickets of standing dead coral, but also previously unknown areas of healthy coral and live bottom. The cruise was a unique collaborative effort supported by NASA ships Liberty Star and Freedom Star normally used for rocket booster recoveries and operated by the private United Space Alliance, based in Port Canaveral. NASA engineers and NOAA National Marine Fisheries scientists were also involved with the mission. The University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW) provided the ROV, and Andrew Shepard, associate director of NOAA 's National Undersea Research Center, based at UNCW, was the expedition leader. HARBOR BRANCH coral expert John Reed acted as chief scientist and principal investigator. The Oculina Banks reefs are found in 200 to 350 feet of water and stretch about 25 miles offshore from Ft. Pierce north to Daytona Beach along the edge of the continental shelf. Though little sunlight can reach the reefs, their biodiversity nonetheless rivals that of shallow Caribbean reefs mainly because the Gulf Stream delivers nutrients and the larvae of countless animal species. "We have the most magnificent ecosystem right here in our backyard, " says Reed. Research by HARBOR BRANCH in the '70s showed these reefs of ivory tree coral (Oculina varicosae) to be unlike any others on earth, but there was concern over plans to fish the fragile structures using roller trawlers. Based on this information, and after years of lobbying by Reed, a 92-square-mile section of the banks stretching from Sebastian Inlet to Fort Pierce was designated a Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) in 1984 and closed to trawling. In 1994, 
bottom fishing was also banned for a 10 -year period to help decimated fish populations. In 2000, this Marine
Protected Area (MPA) was expanded to encompass an additional 208 square miles from Sebastian Inlet up to Cape Canaveral
where trawling, but not bottom fishing, would be banned. The original protected area is now referred to as
the Experimental Oculina Research Reserve.
In June 2003, researchers submitted written testimony to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which sets fishery regulations for the region, about the results of the spring cruise and past Oculina Banks research. Based in large part on the critical needs for further protection that this research has highlighted, the council voted unanimously to continue existing fishing and trawling restrictions in the area, which had been set to expire in 2004. In the larger HAPC, which extends another 30 miles north to Cape Canaveral, trawling will still be banned, as will anchoring and commercial long-line fishing throughout both areas. Sport fishermen can still troll through the HAPC for such open water fish as dolphin, tuna and sailfish. "We are elated over the council's decision," says Shepard, "It makes all the hard work required to study this remote, rugged area worthwhile." During the spring expedition the team spent many hours watching video feed from the ROV on monitors in a makeshift control center normally used as the base for diving operations during booster rocket recoveries. Expert ROV pilot Lance Horn, from UNCW, had to fight the banks ' challenging currents, constantly maneuvering the vehicle to keep it off the bottom and away from delicate coral, and pausing when necessary to snap still photos. All the while, researchers frantically jotted down notes about the coral and animals they saw. "We covered an incredible amount of live bottom, " said Reed while aboard the Freedom Star, "and the majority was areas we never dived previously, even in the '70s." 
The team chose locations for dives based on interesting features revealed by the first ever 3-D map of the banks, created during a 2002 cruise using multibeam sonar. Their intention was to discover what animals and bottom types correlated with the basic topography shown on the map. The cruise was also an important opportunity to compare the health of the protected and unprotected portions of the Oculina Banks. Reed says that during this cruise and one in 2001, researchers saw evidence that fish populations had increased somewhat since establishment of the Oculina protected area, but were still nowhere near the sizes seen in the '70s. One surprising and disturbing discovery was several thickets of standing dead coral in areas where previous dives had generally found healthy coral, such as at the edges of depressions. It is too soon to say what is to blame, but Reed says possible explanations include pollution, water temperature changes or coral diseases like those wreaking havoc on shallow reefs. Some ROV dives highlighted the key threat to the Oculina banks -illegal shrimp trawling -which continues even within the MPA. The research team found vast stretches of coral reduced to rubble, and remnants of recently snagged trawl nets. "Most captains abide by the rules, but it only take one guy to screw it up for everybody, " says Reed. In addition to evidence of the disturbing trends in coral health, the ROV dives also revealed some positive signs of growth and health at the Oculina Banks. The team found for the first time ever, large swaths of hard bottom covered by sponges and other animals. Such "live bottom " had never before been seen on the banks, and might be a future target in the ongoing hunt for new marine organisms that could produce new drugs. 
Twenty-three large coral pinnacles were discovered outside the federally protected area between Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach in areas never before explored and that were not known to contain live coral before the new map was produced. Another positive find was several healthy thickets in newly expanded sections of the protected area that had also never been explored. Reed hopes to eventually investigate some of the newly discovered coral thickets and other features using HARBOR BRANCH's Johnson-Sea-Link submersibles which, unlike ROVs, can overcome the area's swift currents to allow extended examination of a single spot. According to Reed, the only way to effectively preserve the banks will be to increase protection through such measures as expanding the protected area, making current protections permanent, increasing patrols at the banks, and imposing stiffer fines for those found breaking the laws. Reed also hopes part of the Oculina Banks will eventually be declared a National Marine Sanctuary. "It really is a national treasure, " he says. OCULINA BANKS VIDEO FOOTAGE -  Quicktime
 Windows Media
Learn more about the Oculina Banks on @SEA 
NOAA FISHERIES APPROVES EXPANDED BOUNDARIES FOR PROTECTED HABITAT AREA OFF FLORIDA'S EAST COAST TO PROTECT OCULINA CORAL
NOAA Fisheries has approved a measure proposed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council measure to expand the boundaries of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) and to establish two satellite protected areas in order to save delicate coral and the fish that thrive in its fragile colonies. The SAFMC established the Oculina Bank HAPC off Ft. Pierce, Fla. in 1984 to protect a unique area containing Oculina varicosa, sometimes referred to as ivory tree coral. The bank, which lies in water ranging from 230 to 330 feet deep, consist of limestone pinnacles of up to 80 feet of relief covered with delicately branched Oculina coral. The extremely delicate and fragile coral grows slowly, less than a half inch per year, and forms spherical, branching thicket-like colonies that can stretch for hundreds of yards and reach heights of 15 feet. According to the Council's habitat plan for the area, the Oculina Bank HAPC supports a highly diverse deepwater ecosystem that is comparable to tropical reefs. Its strong currents are thought to contribute to the growth of the coral, by trapping fine sand, mud and coral debris which act as habitat for dense populations of mollusks and crustaceans. In turn, those creatures serve as food for many kinds of commercial and recreational fish including red porgy, greater amberjack, and many species of snapper and grouper. 
Because of this biological diversity, the area has been subjected to
intense fishing pressure since the early 1960s. But fishing gear has had a
devastating effect on the fragile coral. The 1984 designation of the
Oculina Bank as an HAPC closed the area to mobile fishing gears like trawls
and dredges but fishermen could still anchor their boats and use weights to
send baits to the bottom. In 1994 the HAPC was also declared the
Experimental Oculina Research Reserve and was closed to all bottom fishing
for 10 years. In 1995, the closure was extended to include all anchoring
within the EORR.
"Unfortunately, in recent years researchers have noted a precipitous decline in the number or the complete disappearance of many important and formerly abundant species from the Oculina habitat," said William Hogarth, administrator of NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region. "It appears that overfishing and habitat destruction have taken a toll on the Oculina Bank. We're hopeful that expanding the protected areas will be a major step toward sustaining what's left of Oculina Banks bio-diversity and facilitating its recovery." The rule retains the western and southern boundaries of the existing Oculina Bank HAPC, moves the northern boundary 37 nautical miles to 28°30' north latitude, and moves the eastern boundary to the 100 fathom (600 ft; 183 m) contour. Furthermore, two 3-square nautical mile satellite Oculina HAPCs have been established. Satellite Oculina HAPC #1 is bounded on the north by 28°30' north latitude, on the south by 28°29' north latitude, on the east by 80°00' west longitude, and on the west by 80°03' west longitude. Satellite Oculina HAPC #2 is bounded on the north by 28°17' north latitude, on the south by 28°16' north latitude, on the east by 80°00' west longitude, and on the west by 80°03' west longitude. The rules will be effective on July 14, 2000. 
Fishing with bottom longlines, bottom trawls, dredges, pots or traps is prohibited in these areas. Vessels may not anchor, use an anchor and chain, or use a grapple and chain anywhere in them, said Hogarth. We will prosecute violators to the fullest extent of the law. Reports of fishery violations during weekly business hours should go to the Southeast Region Law Enforcement Division at (727) 570-5344, or after hours and weekends at its National Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. The NMFS Web site includes a chart that shows the expanded Oculina HAPC as well as the two satellite HAPCs. To view the chart CLICK HERE. Principal steward of the nation's living marine resources, the National Marine Fisheries Service regulates the nation's commercial and recreational fisheries and manages species under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act throughout federal waters. An agency of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NMFS also protects marine and anadromous species under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (Photographs courtesy of John Reed/HBOI) |
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