U.S. ALL ISLANDS CORAL REEF COMMITTEE
CHAIR’S REPORT | FEBRUARY 2018 FROM THE CHAIR Hafa adai, Talofa, Aloha, Hola, and Hello, It is my pleasure, on behalf of the U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee (AIC), to present this report on our activities, accomplishments, and emerging issues since our last meeting in Florida. We would like to welcome the Task Force Members and points of contact, and offer our sincerest thanks to everyone who helped make this important meeting happen. In the six months since we last met, the AIC has continued local efforts to conserve and manage our essential coral reef ecosystems in the face of, often times, daunting circumstances. As you know, four of the jurisdictions were impacted by major storms, which had a significant effect on our people and our coral reefs. While recovery efforts are still underway, we are seeing hopeful signs that our coral reef resources will rebound to support our economies and coastlines. I am pleased to be able to present a new AIC initiative today that will help ensure our coral reefs thrive and continue to survive while facing continual threats from warming oceans, changing acidity, natural disasters and local stressors. The AIC would like to move forward with establishing resilient coral nurseries in each of the jurisdictions to build stronger local breeding stocks of corals, but also to build local capacity in the newest available technologies to help to preserve and protect this important ecosystem. As always, we look forward to continuing to find innovative solutions by working together, as federal agencies and jurisdictions, to make a positive difference for our coral reefs. We are excited to participate in this 39th meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, happening during International Year of the Reef. We look forward to sharing with you all the coral reef-related efforts and endeavors happening across the jurisdictions. Sincerely, Jean-Pierre L. Oriol AIC Chair
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