Coral Bleaching and Marine Protected Areas; Proceedings of the workshop on mitigating coral bleaching impact through MPA Design Bishop Museum, Honolulu HI May 29-31 2001

Abstract

Mass coral bleaching of the scale following the 1998 El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event is viewed by some as an intractable problem and by others as a challenge we need to do "something"about. Patterns of bleaching in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary show that each subsequent event has exceeded former thresholds of resistance and extended bleaching to new reefs. This is a matter of concern that increases the stakes and warns us that we cannot wait any longer to act. Responding to rising global concern, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) joined with the World Wildlife Fund U.S.(WWF-US) to determine how to shape the "something" into practical actions that could be implemented to mitigate the impacts of bleaching on coral reef biodiversity.