[Coral-List] NEED ADVICE!! - ACTIVE MORTALITY EVENT AT FLOWER GARDENS!

[Vicki Nichols Goldstein]

So very sorry to hear this devastating news. FGB is a treasure.

Vicki Nichols Goldstein 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 28, 2016, at 6:30 AM, James Hendee <jim.hendee at noaa.gov> wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
>    Dr. Gittings' message was incorrectly formatted (image was
> attached), but due to the emergency nature of the message, I am posting
> this for him.  Please note this is from him, and to contact him for any
> feedback (i.e., not me).
> 
>    Thanks!
>    Jim
> 
> Subject:
> NEED ADVICE!! - ACTIVE MORTALITY EVENT AT FLOWER GARDENS!
> From:
> Steve Gittings - NOAA Federal <steve.gittings at noaa.gov>
> Date:
> 7/27/16, 5:08 PM
> 
> To:
> "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>,
> Cheryl Woodley - NOAA Federal <cheryl.woodley at noaa.gov>, _NOS ONMS
> Leadership Team <onmslt at noaa.gov>, _NOS ONMS Conservation Science
> Division <onmscsd at noaa.gov>, nmsprc at noaa.gov, Ed Levine - NOAA Federal
> <ed.levine at noaa.gov>, Lisa Symons <Lisa.Symons at noaa.gov>, Edward
> Lindelof - NOAA Federal <edward.lindelof at noaa.gov>, Bill Goodwin - NOAA
> Federal <Bill.Goodwin at noaa.gov>, Bill Precht <bill.precht at noaa.gov>,
> "Boland, Gregory S" <Gregory.Boland at boem.gov>, William Kiene
> <william.kiene at noaa.gov>
> 
> 
> I just got a call from Emma Hickerson, Research Coordinator for the
> Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.  She's on the East Flower
> Garden Bank and reports what appears to be an unprecedented mass dieoff
> of numerous species of at least corals, sea urchins, brittle stars, and
> sponges over a large area.  She says large mats of tissue are sloughing
> off and there appear to be large bacterial mats on the bottom.  Large
> amounts of material and haze in the water is making for virtually zero
> visibility in some places.  Water temperature is 86F.  She isn't certain
> of areal coverage, but believes it to be affecting the areas containing
> at least three mooring buoys (4, 5, and 6).  I believe these buoys are
> about 100 m from one another.  She did not see it at Buoy 2 (the
> long-term monitoring study site), which is on the east edge of the reef
> a similar distance away.  They will continue survey and do random drops
> to determine the extent.  
> 
> 1) Emma would like advice on collection and preservation of materials. 
> They have ethanol, formalin, and freezer space on board, but I don't
> know about other details (jars, etc.)
> 
> 2) Does anyone believe that an emergency closure is warranted to reduce
> spread of the problem by divers, or for any other reason?
> 
> 3) They are disinfecting dive gear, I believe with a vinegar solution. 
> Any additional suggestions on better or additional protocols?
> 
> Thanks very much for any advice.  I can pass it along to the field crew
> via sat phone.
> 
> Steve
> 
> -- 
> Dr. Steve Gittings, Science Coordinator
> NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
> 1305 East West Hwy., N/ORM62
> Silver Spring, MD  20910
> (240) 533-0708 (w), (301) 529-1854 (c)
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