FRRP 10-Year Anniversary Symposium

The Florida Reef Resilience Program (FRRP), the largest coordinated coral condition monitoring program in the world marked ten years of achievements, with a strong record of success in improving understanding of the Florida Reef Tract and a renewed commitment to securing the future of our coral reefs. The FRRP is a collaboration of more than a dozen federal and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and university partners working together to improve and sustain the health of the coral reefs and the industries that depend on them.

On Thursday, January 21, 2016, FRRP marked its ten-year anniversary with a daylong coral reef symposium in Hollywood, Florida. Sessions highlighted the importance and value of Florida’s coral reefs, monitoring and management processes, data applications and tools, and explored current issues and the future of the reefs against the backdrop of global change. Many of the experts who spoke at the event are our strongest assets in the stewardship of Florida’s iconic coral reefs. Partner presenters included: The Nature Conservancy, NOAA, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, FDEP, University of Miami, NOVA Southeastern University, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Mote Tropical Research Laboratory, and representatives from the charter fishing and diving industries as well as others.

Below are presentations from the Symposium:

Welcome and Introduction to the Florida Reef Resilience Program

FRRP Overview- Chris Bergh

Perspectives on the Value of Florida’s Coral Reefs

Natural Values- James Byrne

Monitoring and Managing Coral Bleaching and Other Disturbance Events

Coral Bleaching- Present, Past, and Future- Dr. Mark Eakin

Florida Reef Tract Coral Bleaching Response Plan – Meaghan Johnson

Temporal Spatial Patterns of Coral Bleaching and Disease along the Florida Reef Tract- Dr. Brian Walker

FRRP Management Applications in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – Sean Morton

Added Value: Applications of Florida Reef Resilience Program Data

Modeling Coral Restoration-Current Efforts and Future Needs – Luke McEachron & Katie Wirt