EPA Launches Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Group; Inter-Agency Group to Host Public Listening Session on St. Thomas on February 25 at 1:00pm

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has formed an inter-agency effort to protect coral reefs off the shores of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Group, which will consist of the EPA and other government agencies, will coordinate efforts to protect coral reefs. This will ensure that resources are used wisely and work from one agency complements the work of another.

“The coral reefs of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are renowned for their beauty, and their ecological and economic value,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Unfortunately, these treasures are being destroyed. By working with our fellow governmental agencies, the EPA will help make sure coral reefs continue to contribute to the region’s economy and ecology for generations to come.”

Coral reef ecosystems throughout the Caribbean are being damaged by a growing number of problems such as overfishing, sediment runoff, pollution, disease and climate change, which causes the water to become warmer and more acidic. By implementing measures to reduce those stresses that can be controlled locally, coral health can be improved and reefs can become more resilient.

The Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Group, led by EPA Region 2, will facilitate a closer working relationship among its member agencies to coordinate more effective government strategies in protecting coral reefs.

On February 25th, the Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Group will be hosting a public “listening session” in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Representatives from the EPA and the Coral Reef Protection Group’s other member agencies will be in attendance to hear the discussions and concerns of community groups and citizens regarding the state of coral reefs throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Details of the meeting, which is open to the public, will be announced in February.

In addition to the EPA, the Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Group includes the following governmental agencies: The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Coral Reef Conservation Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

To sign up to speak at the February 25 listening session, or for more info, contact Charles LoBue at (212) 637-3798 or [email protected].

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