Abstract

A rapid coral reef resilience assessment protocol was implemented in 2016 for the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes (PNAA), off the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, southern Gulf of Mexico. Trained diver teams surveyed 18 reef sites in the PNAA, completing 72 surveys from September to October 2016. Coral reef conditions in surveyed sites were considered in good condition, with high live coral cover and low macroalgal levels. Coral bleaching was low in the PNAA at a time when regional forecasts indicated high likelihood of bleaching in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Grouper (Epinephelidae) abundance was low, but that of snappers (Lutjanidae) was higher, although with variable fish size classes across the marine protected area. We recommend implementing management strategies in the PNAA to increase coastal resilience via enforcement planning with partners, targeted outreach/education to build compliance, coral bleaching response, monitoring of visitation, water quality monitoring, and further bio-physical monitoring. The coral reef resilience protocol was successfully used for the first time in PNAA and proved efficient to rapidly describe coral reef condition and provide an initial assessment of resilience in a remote protected area where frequent and in-depth coral reef monitoring can otherwise be challenging.

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