Interior Provides $103,000 to the U.S. Virgin Islands to Manage and Mitigate Harmful Red Algae on Corals and Support Reef Responsible Sustainable Seafood Initiative

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2017) – Interior Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Nikolao Pula made available $103,000 for natural and cultural resource protection in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). 

“We are pleased to support Governor Kenneth Mapp and his administration in their efforts to protect the coral reef and viability of seafood resources in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Pula. “These projects will help Virgin Islanders protect their unique resources by addressing some of the current threats.”

The USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources is granted $103,000 to:

1. Address the emerging threat of red algae, Ramicrusta, on coral reefs in the territory.  The goal is to characterize its abundance and behavior while exploring options for management and mitigation.  Red algae interactions with live coral colonies have caused bleaching and complete mortality.  The red algae overgrowth has already affected three endangered coral species and the threatened elkhorn and staghorn corals in waters surrounding the territory.
2. Market and advertise the Reef Responsible Sustainable Seafood Initiative to promote preservation, moderation and conservation of certain critical seafood stock in the territory.  Marketing to encourage voluntary compliance with regulations and to reduce unsustainable fishing practices in the local population will include signage, radio jingles, social media ads and a music video similar to the new “Conch Gone” Youtube video hit in the Bahamas. 
3. Build capacity of local natural resource management and support partnerships and information sharing through forums such as the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Meetings which include leaders of 12 Federal agencies; two U.S. States; five Territories and Commonwealths; and three Freely Associated States. The USCRTF helps build partnerships, strategies, and support for on-the-ground action to conserve coral reefs.

All funding for cultural and natural resources protection and management was provided under what was formerly called the Coral Reef Initiative and is available under CFDA# 15.875 at https://www.grants.gov/. All four U.S. territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as well as the three freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau are eligible to apply.

Discretionary funding provided by the Office of Insular Affairs in the Department of the Interior is appropriated annually by the U.S. Congress to help address needs in the U.S. Insular Areas.

The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance provided to the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association. On behalf of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas executes these responsibilities through the Office of Insular Affairs whose mission is to foster economic opportunities, promote government efficiency, and improve the quality of life for the people of the insular areas.

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