Coral reefs off Palm Beach County look ‘really healthy’ amid increase in coral bleaching, researchers say – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

Report: Thriving Coral Reefs in Palm Beach County

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (WSVN) – Researchers shared encouraging news about an underwater treasure in South Florida.

The findings are not only beneficial to life under the sea but for us as well. Researchers call the findings a marine miracle.

Assessing the Health of Coral Reefs

“We went out and looked at the coral and found out there was a really good diversity of coral, and the coral looks really healthy,” said Mike Terrell with Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society.

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have been keeping an eye on our coral after an increase in coral bleaching due to rising water temperatures.

“We were assessing the health of the corals on the northern end of Florida’s coral reef tract, right here in Palm Beach County,” said Terrell.

What they found was a good amount of healthy coral.

“Even though the water temperatures are warm, they’re not as warm as they were this time last year,” said Terrell.

When the water temperature is high, corals become stressed and get rid of the algae that live within them, causing them to bleach. Prolonged high water temperatures can be deadly to corals.

Terrel says it’s critical to have healthy coral ecosystems for marine life and for us.

“Healthy coral reefs give us half the breathable oxygen that we breathe every day,” he said, “and it also protects us from storms, by buffering things like waves and wind from the land.”

Hope for the Future

Researchers are hopeful the coral in Palm Beach will continue to thrive.

“And so, if those cooler water temperatures keep staying, this could be a better year for the coral reefs,” said Terrell.

The team also saw other marine life such as a lemon shark and a loggerhead sea turtle, which they said is a great sign the coral reef ecosystem is thriving.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 13: Climate Action
2. Goal 14: Life Below Water
3. Goal 15: Life on Land

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration, to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
   • Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
   • Indicator 14.2.2: Progress by countries in the degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
   • Indicator 14.2.3: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
   • Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula.
   • Indicator 13.3.2: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer, and development actions.

Analysis

The article highlights the health and diversity of coral reefs in Palm Beach County, Florida. Based on the content, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

The health and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, are directly connected to SDG 14.

• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration, to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
• Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
• Indicator 14.2.2: Progress by countries in the degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
• Indicator 14.2.3: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels.

The article mentions the assessment of the health of corals in Palm Beach County, which contributes to the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems. The presence of healthy coral reefs indicates progress towards achieving healthy and productive oceans.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

The article indirectly addresses SDG 13 by discussing the impact of rising water temperatures on coral bleaching and the importance of cooler water temperatures for coral reef health.

• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
• Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula.
• Indicator 13.3.2: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer, and development actions.

The article emphasizes the importance of cooler water temperatures for coral reef health and mentions the impact of rising water temperatures on coral bleaching. This highlights the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to protect coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wsvn.com