Issue 92 - January 2023
Invasive Black Carp Established in Parts of The Mississippi River Basin
By USGS Regional News
Black carp, which are an invasive fish species in North America, is now known to be established in the wild in parts of the Mississippi River basin. A new study co-authored by the U.S. Geological Survey is the first to identify an established population—meaning they are naturally reproducing and living to adulthood— of wild black carp in any location across the U.S.

Black carp can grow quickly and reach more than 3 feet long. They prey on species such as snails and mussels and pose a risk to many already imperiled native mussels in this region. Mussels support ecosystem health by improving water quality—they filter out bacteria, algae, and pollutants as they breathe and feed—and provide food and nutrition for other species.
Knowledge of the extent of invasion can help inform federal, state, and local agencies as they develop control strategies, mitigate effects, and consider plans and limitations on the use or transportation of live black carp.
Black carp, which are native to east Asia, was first imported to control snails in fish farms where fish are bred. Snails are hosts of parasites that can harm channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, and other fish that are important human food sources and support the regional economy.

The use of black carp in these types of aquatic environments is regulated and requires permits, and there isn’t a clear understanding of how black carp escaped those settings.
“While prior studies have indicated that wild black carp might be established in parts of the Mississippi River basin, this is the most comprehensive study and the first research to provide strong evidence that they are present and sustaining on their own,” said Patrick Kroboth, a research fish biologist with the USGS and co-author on the study.
“This study finds that in the area examined, wild black carp have naturally reproduced, there are multiple ages present, carp are living to adulthood and the population primarily consists of fertile fish that are capable of reproducing,” continued Kroboth. “This suggests that the environment has suitable conditions for black carp’s entire life cycle.”
The authors of this study examined black carp that were captured by the public or state and federal agencies between May 2011 and September 2018. The fish were examined for characteristics such as size, age, the environments in which they have lived, and whether fish were reproduced in the wild or controlled settings.
Black carp were imported from Asia to the U.S. multiple times, beginning in the 1970s. Some states ban possession of black carp, and importation of black carp into the U.S. has been prohibited since their 2007 listing as an injurious species under the Lacey Act.

Black carp are one of the four major Chinese aquaculture carp, which also includes silver carp, bighead carp and grass carp. Those three have already been documented by the USGS and partners as established in the Mississippi River basin. This group of fish was previously known in the United States as “Asian carp” and is now referred to as “invasive carp.”
“When an invasive species becomes established, eradication can be difficult, but it can also be challenging to collect robust information during the onset and early stages when abundance is typically low,” said Gregory Whitledge, a professor with the Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences at Southern Illinois University and the lead author of the study. “This research includes the largest sample size and is the most robust analysis of wild black carp in the Mississippi River basin, helping inform those making decisions to curtail further expansion.”
The Mississippi River basin covers more than 1,150,000 square miles and includes 32 states and small parts of two Canadian provinces. The river originates in northern Minnesota and flows south to Louisiana. Black carp have been observed in several locations, but the exact species abundance and distribution aren’t currently known because there are limited sampling efforts targeting black carp and the probability of catching them in the large rivers they inhabit is low.
The research was recently published in Biological Invasions. In addition to Southern Illinois University and the USGS, authors include Missouri State University, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
When a black carp is captured in the wild, it can be reported to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database. That tool compiles information on and can be used to track the status of other aquatic invasive species as well. The USGS is involved in many invasive species projects across the U.S. and its territories. Learn more by visiting the USGS Invasive Species Program website or the USGS invasive carp website.

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Issue 92 - January 2023
SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – January 2023 – Issue 92

Feature Destination
Pavones, Costa Rica, a Surfer’s Paradise
This incredible beach is located in the canton of Golfito in Puntarenas, in the south of the country. In addition to its abundant plant growth, it is known for another special reason, a meeting place for those who love surfing and are passionate about great waves. The waves of Pavones are second only to those of Chicama, Peru. Read more…
Costa Rica Receives First Emission Reductions Payment from Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
Costa Rica has become the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to receive payments from a World Bank trust fund for reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation—commonly known as REDD+. Read more…
Feature Destination: Visit Costa Rica
With a goal to be the first carbon-neutral country in the world by 2021, sustainable practices are observed in every region of the country, across all industries, adopted by all citizens and embraced by visitors. From local Costa Rican cuisine to artisan crafts to traditional customs and celebrations, sustainability is embedded deeply in the culture and traditions of Costa Rica. Read more…
NEWSROOM
11th Hour Racing Awards New Grants to Nonprofit Organizations to Restore Marine Ecosystems and Ocean Health
11th Hour Racing announced today eight new grants, funded by The Schmidt Family Foundation, to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Read more…
Scientists Announce New Names of 20 Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales
Scientists have unveiled the news names of 20 cataloged North Atlantic right whales, an annual tradition that helps researchers in the field more easily identify individual whales with recognizable features. Read more…
A DIVER’S GUIDE TO THE WORLD: Remarkable Dive Travel Destinations Above & Beneath the Surface by Carrie Miller & Chris Taylor
Over the course of 14 months, National Geographic travel expert Carrie Miller and dive master Chris Taylor traveled to 50 inspirational locations around the world. Read more…
Fish Larvae Find Their Way Using External Cues, New Study Finds
The first global analysis of larval orientation studies found that millimeter-sized fish babies consistently use external cues to find their way in the open ocean. There are many external cues available to marine fish including the Sun, Earth’s magnetic field, and sounds. Read more…
Invasive Black Carp Established in Parts of The Mississippi River Basin
Black carp, which are an invasive fish species in North America, is now known to be established in the wild in parts of the Mississippi River basin. A new study co-authored by the U.S. Geological Survey is the first to identify an established population. Read more…
Massive “Marimo” Algae Balls at Risk from Deadly Winter Sunburn
Climate change could overexpose rare underwater “marimo” algae balls to sunlight, killing them off according to a new study at the University of Tokyo. Marimo are living fluffy balls of green algae. Read more…
New Research: As “Connector Species,” Birds Are Essential to the Health of Both Islands and Oceans
Islands around the world have been decimated by introduced invasive species, but restoring islands — with a special focus on saving seabirds — provides benefits across land and sea. Read more…
SAWFISH NEWS: What Does Recovery Mean for Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish?
Following the population decline of smalltooth sawfish in the United States and the 2003 listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a team was assembled to recover the population of this endangered species. Read more…
The 2022 Report Card on the Health of the Mesoamerican Reef Released
Less than ten percent of the Mesoamerican Reef coral reef area is fully protected from fishing, with three out of four countries now having critically low grouper and snapper biomass. Reefs like Cozumel, Mexico. Read more…
Guy Harvey Academy of Arts & Science Opens at Anna Maria Elementary in Bradenton, Florida
The Guy Harvey Foundation has been working closely with the School District of Manatee County to develop an art, math, and science-based curriculum to educate and engage young students on the importance of preserving our oceans and marine life while learning about the world’s environment. Read more…
Court Recommends Halting Alaska’s Unsustainable Harvest to Protect Wild Chinook & Southern Resident Killer Whales

In a massive international and coast-wide decision for wild Chinook and Southern Resident killer whale recovery, Seattle’s federal Court issued a landmark opinion on Tuesday that recommends terminating unsustainable commercial salmon harvest that has persisted for decades until new environmental reviews of those fisheries occur. Read more…
Scientists Call for Urgent Conservation of Deep Reefs, One of The Planet’s Largest & Least Protected Ecosystems

As world leaders, government negotiators, scientists, and conservationists gather ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP15, to agree to halt and reverse nature loss, an international team of marine scientists and conservationists have made an impassioned plea. Read more…
Slowing Water for Greener Neighborhoods By Dr. Rob Moir

Climate Change has brought fiercer storms with devastating floods and long-lasting droughts that stressed and killed plants and animals. Once we controlled water. These days, water is in control and is harming us. Read more…
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Issue 92 - January 2023
The 2022 Report Card on the Health of the Mesoamerican Reef Released
Contributed By Healthy Reefs for Healthy People
Less than ten percent of the Mesoamerican Reef coral reef area is fully protected from fishing, with three out of four countries now having critically low grouper and snapper biomass. Reefs like Cozumel, Mexico – that are fully protected and enforced – demonstrate their capacity for sustainable use and resiliency.

MESOAMERICAN REEF — The 2022 Report Card on the Health of the Mesoamerican Reef was released today by the Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI), a collaboration of over 70 organizations dedicated to the conservation of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. It reveals that reef health has dropped for the second time – reaching the same “Poor” rating (2.3 out of 5) that was first measured in 2006 and down from the “fair” rating (2.8) attained five years ago. These data come from 234 reef sites assessed with a standard methodology by 77 surveyors from 36 different organizations from June to December 2021.
The Mesoamerican Reef system includes four off-shore atolls, barrier, fringing, and patch reefs encompassed within 1324 km2 of coral reef habitat distributed among 17 subregions, eight of which are now in critical condition for commercial fish biomass. Belize experienced the greatest decline in reef health caused primarily by the over 50% reduction in both commercial and herbivorous fish biomass, likely due to reduced enforcement and sustained fishing during COVID restrictions.
The Reef Health Report Card tracks four indicators to understand changes in reef health over time: live coral cover, fleshy macroalgae cover, the biomass of key herbivorous and commercial fish species. Reef Health can be assessed for each indicator or for the integrated Reef Health Index, which equally considers all four indicators. Evaluations can be considered at the site, subregion, country, or full Mesoamerican Reef scale. In all these cases the message is clear – we urgently need to increase reef protection. Fish populations are now critically low in every country, except Mexico. Most of the 17 subregions are in “poor condition”, with Cozumel, Mexico as the only subregion in ‘good’ condition for overall reef health. Interestingly, Cozumel also has the highest percent of its coral reef area within full protection from all fishing (35%) and is the only subregion with ‘very good’ conditions for commercial and herbivorous fish. These data demonstrate the value of full protection, particularly when local communities are involved in the management and are benefiting economically.
Maria José González, Executive Director of the Mesoamerican Reef Fund said, “This 2022 Report Card is sobering and an immediate call to action. The International Development Bank’s 2021 economic valuation of the Mesoamerican Reef found it provides goods and services valued at about US$4.5 billion per year, which we stand to lose if we allow the reef to further decline. We need to turn this threat into an opportunity to engage the private sector and innovate more market-based initiatives that will reduce the threats to the reef and generate income for local communities. Inaction is not an option.”

The four MAR countries have designated over 50 MPAs that cover 56% of the territorial waters in the MAR. Most are actively managed. But most of the MPAs still allow fishing – only 2.4% of the territorial waters are in full protection – ranging from 1.8% in Belize to 12% in Guatemala. “We are eager to study the ecological response and potential recovery of fish populations in Guatemala, after declaring our first fully protected reef area in the amazing Cayman Crown reef in 2020,” said Ana Giró, HRI’s Coordinator for Guatemala.
This is the seventh HRI Report Card issued since 2008, with all of them including the recommendation to put 20% of the sea under full protection from all fishing, in order to replenish heavily exploited populations and restore the reef’s complex ecological functioning. “We talk a lot about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and allocate considerable financial resources for their management,” said Dr. Melanie McField, Director of HRI and a Smithsonian coral reef scientist with over 30 years of experience working in the region. “ We now need this protection to become absolute, along with our resolve to enforce it.”
The percent of the coral reef habitat under full protection is somewhat better, with 9% region-wide, ranging from 7% in Belize to 15% in Mexico. Notable is that Mexico is also the only country whose commercial fish biomass is not in critical condition. Full protection will help sustain the fisheries and reef health. Increasing this to 20% could further enhance and support the fisheries outside the fully protected zones due to the exponential increase in offspring produced by “big mamma” fish within the fully protected zones. “If we had actually placed 20% of the MAR under full protection 15 years ago when we first recommended it, the region would now be reaping the benefits of more productive fisheries, improved reef health, and increased tourism value in the fully protected zones,” McField said.
While fish decline is the main issue highlighted in this report, we continue to deal with high levels of fleshy macroalgae that can impede coral growth and reproduction. Additionally, while coral cover has remained relatively stable, threats such as stony coral tissue loss disease and climate change have impacted coral communities and reduced their diversity. We have lost 44% of our reef-building boulder corals, leaving space for more opportunistic, non-framework-building species and macroalgae. This change in species composition translates to reduced growth and lower calcium carbonate accretion (our coral’s building blocks) making our reefs highly susceptible to erosion and other impacts, reducing their services such as coastal protection and resiliency.
This precarious balance for the coral community is particularly evident in Mexico and Honduras, where even total live cover has declined since our last assessment. “Our state continues to face the challenges of balancing economic development with the integrity of our most fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs, however, one cannot exist without the other. The goal of our government is to consolidate sustainable growth that conserves and restores our ecosystems with a social commitment to our communities so that no one is left behind. We congratulate and join the great work carried out by HRI for our reefs,” said Huguette Hernández, Secretary of Ecology and Environment of the Government of the State of Quintana Roo (SEMA).
We know that escalating stress from global climate change and disease outbreaks are now impacting our reef, while the decades-old problems of sewage and agricultural nutrient pollution continue to fuel macroalgal proliferation and pathogens. Thus, our reef is being assaulted on many fronts and our meager defensive tactics are languishing. We need bold offensive strategies to propel reefs into a better ecological condition – by actually managing our wastewater and agricultural runoff, controlling coastal development, increasing reef herbivory, and restoring commercial fish by implementing fully protected zones to replenish critically depleted populations.
“With the increasing threats confronting the MAR, this Report Card provides an urgent call to action and a persistent reminder that these ecosystems need more protection. It also provides the baseline from which we can assess the impact of our conservation and management efforts,” said Dr. Jake Snaddon, Director of the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute.
Governments need to commit to fully protect at least 20% of the sea, as the core of the 30% highly protected that is part of the 30X30 commitments; municipalities and businesses need to invest in adequate sewage treatment, while governments and communities need to collaborate to prevent massive coastal developments with irreparable ecological and social damages. Finally, we all need to become more politically engaged in these decisions and reduce our individual carbon footprints by adopting more sustainable lifestyles, particularly our food/protein choices.
For more information, please visit https://www.healthyreefs.org/cms/

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Issue 92 - January 2023
SAWFISH NEWS: What Does Recovery Mean for Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish?
Contributed by Tonya Willy, Havenworth Coastal Conservation

Following the population decline of smalltooth sawfish in the United States and the 2003 listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a team was assembled to recover the population of this endangered species. But what is recovery and how do we achieve it for smalltooth sawfish?
Under the ESA, recovery is defined as the process of restoring endangered and threatened species to the point where they no longer require the safeguards of the Act. To guide managers and researchers in that recovery process, the ESA directs NOAA Fisheries (or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the case of terrestrial animals) to develop recovery plans. Recovery plans outline the paths and tasks required to restore and secure self-sustaining wild populations. They are guidance documents that describe, justify, and schedule the research and management actions necessary to support recovery of a species.
A recovery plan for smalltooth sawfish in the U.S. was published in 2009 and outlines specific criteria for downlisting (a reclassification from endangered to threatened) and delisting (a reclassification from threatened to recovered). Sawfish may be delisted on the basis of recovery only if the best available scientific and commercial data indicate an improvement in the status of the species to the point where it is no longer appropriate to be considered endangered. For smalltooth sawfish that means ensuring the long-term viability of the species through substantial increases in both abundance and range.
Smalltooth sawfish in the U.S. are considered to be, and managed as, one single population. This means that under ESA regulations, all sawfish receive equal and consistent protections regardless of where they are geographically. Sawfish in Everglades National Park are just as protected and equally important to the population as those in Tampa Bay, Indian River Lagoon, Texas, or Georgia. Since the species is managed as a single population, not individual geographic populations, only the species as a whole can be considered recovered. In other words, smalltooth sawfish cannot be locally or regionally recovered such as in one particular bay system.
While we are starting to see some encouraging signs in the population, we are certainly a long way from recovery. Modest increases in sawfish numbers are likely the result of the 1992 protection from harvest in Florida waters, the 1995 Florida gillnet ban, and the 2003 ESA listing which have all aided in reducing mortality, and a substantial increase in important outreach and education efforts over the last two decades. However, until recovery is truly documented, it is critical that local, state, and federal regulations and protections remain in place in all areas of the U.S. to ensure the continued improvement in the smalltooth sawfish population.
You can also help scientists track recovery of the population and steer research efforts by sharing information about your sawfish catches and sightings by visiting www.SawfishRecovery.org, calling 1-844-4SAWFISH, emailing sawfish@myfwc.com, or entering the details in the FWC Reporter App. For more information on protected species recovery visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/recovery-endangered-and-threatened-species
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