Case Studies - Experimental Oculina Research Reserve Slide Show
Quicktime,
Broadband, 2.6 Mb Slide Show Narrative: Off of central Florida's Atlantic
coast, submarine ridges are home to thickets of Oculina varicosa,
also known as ivory tree coral. Slow-growing, branchlike, and delicate,
healthy stands of this coral provide shelter for groupers, sea bass,
red snapper, and beautiful invertebrates. By the early 1990s, however,
much of the Oculina habitat was destroyed, mostly from bottom trawl
fishing. Fish stocks were severely depleted and coral was reduced
to rubble. Since 1994, the area has been designated as a reserve.
Here bottom fishing is prohibited to protect standing coral that
remains, and clusters of concrete "reef balls" have been
deployed to help reestablish coral habitat. Scientists are encouraged
by the Bank’s early signs of revival where several fish species
have colonized these experimental structures. Photo Credits: Click here to download Quicktime. Click here to download Windows Media Player. Click here to download RealPlayer. |