Common use of Main conclusions Clause in Contracts

Main conclusions. Although parrotfish and grunts are increasing in size and biomass, fishery stocks remain low in Bluefields Bay. Future increases are probably limited by the relatively small amount of coral reef habitat that’s currently under active protection within the BBSFCA. Corals are relatively abundant. A few are diseased, but as of Fall 2018 there are no signs of the new stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) that’s been devastating the north coast reefs. Coral recruits (< 4 cm. diameter) average ~15/m2, affording good potential for continued reef growth, especially if the reef surfaces currently occupied by their detractors (macroalgae, turf algal sediment mats, cyanobacteria and aggressive invertebrates) can be minimized by increases in herbivory and water quality. In 2015, the key herbivore, Diadema antillarum, was present in such high densities at some locations on two shoal crest sites (BL08, BL11) that crustose coralline algae and the underlying reef rock were being whittled away by their bioeroding feeding activities. Transplanting any “excessive” individuals as still remain onto reefs lacking urchins might help prevent the build- up of the macroalgae that are currently outcompeting corals on the deeper reefs outside the BBSFCA. Sediment and nutrients in runoff and groundwater, especially near the river mouths, may be stimulating the growth of cyanobacteria and algae in Bluefields Bay. Effects, if any, of additional water-borne pollutants (pesticides or other synthetic chemicals, enteric bacteria, viruses, etc.) are unknown. Local improvements in water quality would enhance the ability Illegal fish trap in seagrass inside the BBSCA; its buoy had been suspended below the surface, ~7m, BL16, YE-2018 Three stoplight parrotfish and a French grunt in the above illegal fish trap. Stoplights are scarce in AGRRA surveys (~3/100m2) and may avoid humans underwater, YE-2018 of the BSFCA reef communities to resist and/or recover from the expected detrimental effects of ongoing climate change. A foureye butterflyfish and its tiny feeding scars on a lobed star coral, ~6 m, BL14, YE-2018 Cyanobacteria grow on Halimeda, ~10 m, BL07, SV-2015 Benthos transect line terminating on a large lobed star coral in a spur reef with high live coral cover outside the BBSCFA, ~6 m, BL15, YE-2018 Surveyor reeling in the fish tape at the end of a transect, ~7 m, BL16, YE-2018

Main conclusions. Although parrotfish In addition to its seasonal bans on eels and grunts commercially important molluscs and crustaceans, the DR has prohibited all capture of important reef herbivores (Diadema, parrotfishes, surgeonfishes) and of sharks, rays and sea cucumbers from mid 2017-mid 2019. To the extent that the bans are being respected by local fishers, the 2018 surveys would have occurred too soon after their enactment to record any noticeable improvements in herbivorous fish biomass. Moreover, the prohibitions may need to last more than two years to be effective at replenishing any of these fishery stocks. The decrease in live coral and crustose coralline algal cover is locally attributed to a period of unusually heavy rains in late 2017. Large volumes of sediments entered Samaná Bay, increasing turbidity, reducing light penetration and, presumably, enabling the large expansion of mats formed by sediment- trapping, turf algae that were found in size 2018, particularly at the four western sites nearest the rivers and biomass, fishery stocks remain low in Bluefields Bayoutside the BPNSMM. Future increases are probably limited by the relatively small amount The density of coral reef habitat that’s currently under active protection within the BBSFCA. Corals are relatively abundant. A few are diseased, but as of Fall 2018 there are no signs of the new stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) that’s been devastating the north coast reefs. Coral recruits (< 4 cm. diameter) average ~15also decreased between 2015 and 2018 (from ~25 to ~5/m2m2 ). If sustained, affording good potential for continued reef growth, especially and if the reef surfaces currently occupied by their detractors (macroalgae, turf algal sediment mats, cyanobacteria and aggressive invertebrates) can be minimized by increases in herbivory and water quality. In 2015inflows remain a problem, the key herbivore, Diadema antillarum, was present in such high densities at some locations on two shoal crest sites (BL08, BL11) that crustose coralline algae and the underlying reef rock were being whittled away by their bioeroding feeding activities. Transplanting any “excessive” individuals as still remain onto reefs lacking urchins might help prevent the build- up of the macroalgae that are currently outcompeting corals coral communities on the deeper reefs outside shoals are unlikely to be rebuilt after their recent losses. The effects on the BBSFCA. Sediment and nutrients in runoff and groundwater, especially near the river mouths, may be stimulating the growth benthic organisms of cyanobacteria and algae in Bluefields Bay. Effects, if any, of additional water-borne any pollutants (pesticides or and other synthetic chemicals, enteric bacteria, viruses, etc.) present in runoff and groundwater are unknown. Local However, there were no obvious signs of excessive nutrient inputs to the bay. Any additional improvements in local water quality and its reef fish populations would enhance the ability Illegal fish trap in seagrass inside the BBSCA; its buoy had been suspended below the surface, ~7m, BL16, YE-2018 Three stoplight parrotfish and a French grunt in the above illegal fish trap. Stoplights are scarce in AGRRA surveys (~3/100m2) and may avoid humans underwater, YE-2018 of the BSFCA reef shoal coral communities in Samaná Bay to resist and/or recover from the expected detrimental effects of ongoing climate change. A foureye butterflyfish rare, large clump of healthy looking elkhorn corals on the wave- swept shoal in the mouth of Samaná Bay, 4 m, DR203, F-2018 White encrusting zoanthids grow on dead elkhorn corals in high turbidity near the SE Samaná Bay coast, ~3 m, DR101, F-2018 Small, massive starlet corals grow among octocorals and its tiny feeding scars dead staghorn coral sticks on a lobed star coralmid-bay shoal, ~6 ~8 m, BL14DR104, YE-2018 Cyanobacteria grow on HalimedaF-2018 Benthos surveyor conducting a belt transect to record AGRRA motile invertebrates (Diadema, ~10 other urchins, lambi, etc.) ~5 m, BL07DR106, SV-2015 Benthos transect line terminating on a large lobed star coral in a spur reef with high live coral cover outside the BBSCFA, ~6 m, BL15, YE-2018 Surveyor reeling in the fish tape at the end of a transect, ~7 m, BL16, YE-2018F-2018

Main conclusions. The large decrease in parrotfish biomass between 2015 and 2018 was caused by reductions in both their density and sizes. Although parrotfish team-specific differences regarding transect depths and grunts are increasing fish size discriminations may be contributing factors, fishing pressures have probably increased since 2015, especially along the fringing reef. Herbivores were prominent in size and biomass, fishery stocks remain low a ▇▇▇▇ net observed at the most easterly survey site (PA3B-28) in Bluefields Bay2018. Future increases are probably limited by the relatively small amount of coral reef habitat that’s currently under active protection within the BBSFCA. Corals are relatively abundantCoral recruit density was somewhat reduced in 2018 (4 vs. 10/m2 in 2015). A few are diseased, but as decrease since 2015 of Fall 2018 there are no signs about half of the new PA3B’s live coral cover, especially on the eastern sites, is troubling; some mortality may have followed the bleaching event seen in fall 2015. Newly dead coral tissues seen in the 2018 photos of massive corals in the eastern, fringing reefs may portend an outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease disease, which elsewhere is proving very lethal to important species of reef constructors. Sargassum and other tall (SCTLD~4 cm in 2018), fleshy macroalgae are conspicuous at most fore-reef sites, and attest to the scarcity of key herbivores (Diadema, parrotfishes and surgeonfishes) that’s been devastating the north coast reefs. Coral recruits (< 4 cm. diameter) average ~15/m2, affording good potential for continued reef growth, especially if the reef surfaces currently occupied by their detractors (macroalgae, turf algal sediment mats, cyanobacteria and aggressive invertebrates) can be minimized by increases in herbivory and water quality. In 2015, the key herbivore, Diadema antillarum, was present in such high densities at some locations on two shoal crest sites (BL08, BL11) that crustose coralline algae and the underlying reef rock were being whittled away by their bioeroding feeding activities. Transplanting any “excessive” individuals as still remain onto reefs lacking urchins might help prevent the build- up of the macroalgae that are currently outcompeting corals on the deeper reefs outside the BBSFCA. PA3B. Sediment and nutrients in runoff and groundwater, especially near the river mouths, groundwater may be stimulating the growth of cyanobacteria these smothering algae and algae in Bluefields Baysome cyanobacteria. EffectsThe health of corals and other reef organisms may also be compromised by any synthetic chemicals (e.g., if anypesticides, of additional water-borne pollutants herbicides, pharmaceuticals) or pathogens (pesticides or other synthetic chemicalse.g., enteric bacteria, viruses, etc.) are unknownas may be present in the ambient seawater. Local improvements successes at improving habitat and water quality, and in water quality enforcing the new fishing regulations, would enhance the ability Illegal fish trap in seagrass inside the BBSCA; its buoy had been suspended below the surface, ~7m, BL16, YE-2018 Three stoplight parrotfish and a French grunt in the above illegal fish trap. Stoplights are scarce in AGRRA surveys (~3/100m2) and may avoid humans underwater, YE-2018 of the BSFCA PA3B reef communities to resist and/or recover from the expected detrimental effects of ongoing climate change. A foureye butterflyfish and its tiny feeding scars on a lobed star coral, ~6 m, BL14, YE-2018 Cyanobacteria grow on Halimeda, ~10 m, BL07, SV-2015 Benthos transect line terminating on a large lobed star coral Herbivores caught in a spur reef with high live coral cover outside ▇▇▇▇ net on the BBSCFA, ~6 m, BL15, YE-2018 Surveyor reeling in the fish tape at the end of a transectfringing reef. Diseased corals. Left: Orbicella annularis, ~7 m, BL16PA3B-18; Benthos surveyor on the fringing fore reef, YE-2018~5 m, PA3B-11, F-2018