The first leg of NOAA's Islands in the Stream 2001
Expedition in September to the deep-water Oculina Habitat Area of
Particular Concern (HAPC) off the east coast of Florida was a great
success. This 300-nmi2 reserve is the first protected marine
area in the world to attempt to protect deep water coral. Scientists
from NOAA, HBOI, NURC, NASA, NMFS, University of Florida, and Dynamac
joined to map and nsrvey these unique reefs. Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institution provided the ship and CLELIA submersibles for the dives.
In 8 days, 16 sub dives and 13 ROV dives were conducted throughout the
reserve and resulted in more than 70 hours of underwater videotape
documentation. Numerous historical sites, some not seen for nearly
25 years, were revisited. In all, much has changed during the past
two decades, including significant habitat destruction, apparently from
shrimp trawlers and reduced reef-fish abundance. In contrast, the
apparent success of artificial- Reef Ball experiments [provided by a Grant
from the Reef Ball Foundation to
NOAA] and occasional sightings of grouper aggregations were
encouraging. This work significantly improved our understanding of the
Oculina Reserve and provided valuable new findings to support management
of these special resources.