Coral Reef Report Cards 2016 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Report Card

Protecting Key Habitats Managed Key Habitats of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Three main habitats - coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds - support productive fisheries, stabilize coastlines and host tourism and recreational activities. • The Nature Conservancy conducted benthic habitat surveys (caribnode.org). • Contiguous areas with corals, mangroves and seagrasses are important nursery areas and corridors for resident and transient species. • Habitats are threatened by direct removal and damage, coastal development, sedimentation, poor water quality, unsustainable fishing and global climate change. • St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ government has proactive programs for marine management, fisheries regulations, youth education and community outreach. • Tobago Keys Marine Park protects the largest area (52 km 2 ) of corals and seagrass. 168 km 2 of coral reef 23% 0.7 km 2 of mangroves 59% 28 km 2 of seagrass 36% Designated Coral Mangrove Seagrass Proposed Not Protected St. Vincent & the Grenadines Habitat Types Threatened Coral reefs: Largest extent of coral reefs of the 6 EC countries. Types vary with wave exposure and water depth. West side of islands: leeward, narrow shelf; shallow patch reefs or rock boulders encrusted with small corals; deeper reefs with steeper slope, greater coral cover; higher coral, gorgonian, sponge, and fish abundance. East coast: windward, higher wave energy, wider shelf, hardground or reef flats, low coral cover and diversity. Some areas recovering elkhorn. Tobabo Cays: many reef types - fringing, patch, reef crest, hardbottom. South Coast: large shallow elkhorn reef, deeper spurs with abundant finger and pencil corals. Healthy Stacey Williams Steve Schill SNLT Myles Phillips Steve Schill Emma Doyle Mangroves: Red, black & white mangroves and buttonwood, mostly fringing. Largest mangrove area: Ashton Harbor, Union Island (red & black); smaller areas in Clifton Bay, Richmond Bay, Palm Island. St. Vincent mainland: limited, few left, small area near Blue Lagoon (white). Isle A Quatre: east side. Mustique: Lagoon Bay (black) and North end near airport (scrub black, buttonwood). Canouan: Charleston and Carenage Bays. Tobago Cays: small area Petit Rameau & Petit Bateau. Mangroves have been cleared in several areas in SVG for marinas and coastal development. Intact mangroves provide higher quality habitat, protect shorelines, and improve water quality. Seagrass: St Vincent: Waillibou to South Coast. Largest - Chateaubelair, Cumberland, Kingstown & Calliaqua Bays and South Coast. Bequia: west coast & Admiralty Bay; Spring & Friendship Bays to east. Mustique: Endeavour, L’Ansecoy & Rutland Bays. SW Petit Mustique. Canouan: Charleston, Maho, Carneage, & Friendship Bays. Tobago Cays: Largest seagrass bed. Union: entire island, Ashton Harbor, Chatham Bay. Seagrass beds provide key fish, conch, & lobster nursery areas; sea turtle foraging areas. Impacted by sediments, pollution, direct damage. Invasive seagrass present. Healthy seagrass beds stabilize sediments & improve water clarity. Climate Change Impacts Biodiversity Local and regional resource managers need to incorporate planning for climate change in their efforts to protect coral reefs. Rising ocean temperatures increase coral bleaching, disease and mortality Oceans will become more acidic as more atmospheric carbon dioxide is dissolved reducing calcification in corals and other calcifying animals The intensity and frequency of hurricanes will increase as oceans continue to warm and will damage corals, coastlines and infrastructure Rising sea levels will flood coastal areas and may reduce light in seagrass beds and coral reefs Coral Parrotfish Sponge Grouper Seagrass Urchin Mangrove Conch Threats Coastal development, dredging, sand mining Land based sources of pollution Unsustainable Tourism Hurricanes Unsustainable fishing Rising temperatures Symbol library courtesy of the Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (ian.umces.edu/symbols/) 4

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