Coral Spawning Working Group
Introduction
The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force passed a resolution in 2004 calling for member agencies to assess the potential impacts of human activities conducted in the coastal zone on coral reproduction and recruitment. Many species of coral reproduce by releasing massive numbers of eggs and sperm into the water column. In an effort to enhance fertilization and the coral recruitment success, the Coral Spawning Resolution calls for the identification and modification of the type or timing of activities that introduce nutrients, toxic chemicals, and suspended particles into coral reef ecosystems.
A Pacific Interagency Working Group was formed and includes National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Army Corps Engineers, along with other academic and State/Territory partners. This working group has been instrumental in promoting and coordinating specific projects in the region.
In the Atlantic-Caribbean, data on coral spawning times and coral reproduction have been compiled to help predict coral spawning and larval duration times in Florida and the Caribbean. This information will be provided to managers for use in designing and implementing management activities that consider the impacts to coral reproduction.