A Proposal Framework for a Tri-National Agreement on Biological Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem

Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean

“…The first of which was signed by the United States and Cuba in 2015 developing a “sister sanctuaries” program among coral reef marine protected areas including the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico), Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and Guanahacabibes and Banco de San Antonio marine protected areas in western Cuba (NOAA, 2015). In 2018, a similar MOU was signed by Cuba and Mexico recognizing the need for cooperative marine protected area management (Strongin et al., 2022). However, there is currently no overarching agreement among the United States, Cuba, and Mexico to cooperatively manage the Gulf of Mexico coral ecosystems although multiple tri‐national management frameworks have been proposed (Nash & McLaughlin, 2014; Strongin et al., 2022).…”

“…However, there is currently no overarching agreement among the United States, Cuba, and Mexico to cooperatively manage the Gulf of Mexico coral ecosystems although multiple tri-national management frameworks have been proposed (Nash & McLaughlin, 2014;Strongin et al, 2022). Moreover, it should be noted that M. cavernosa Caribbean and if these populations warrant incorporation into proposed regional management frameworks.…”

“…Both mesophotic populations maintain relatively high levels of coral cover and serve as depth refugia from threats like coral disease outbreaks (Hickerson et al, 2012;Johnston et al, 2016;Reed et al, 2015;Sturm et al, 2021) , 2015). In 2018, a similar MOU was signed by Cuba and Mexico recognizing the need for cooperative marine protected area management (Strongin et al, 2022).…”

“…Protecting important coral source populations and their connectivity pathways to promote gene flow toward population sinks can help to maintain high levels of genetic diversity and promote resilience to thermal stress events and disease outbreaks (Van Oppen & Gates, 2006). Collaborative and holistic management of connected coral populations can be challenging as connectivity patterns are poorly understood and can extend across international boundaries, therein requiring cooperation across multiple management and policy frameworks (Nash & McLaughlin, 2014; Strongin et al., 2022).…”

“…Therefore, we recommend greater inclusion of mesophotic populations into existing monitoring and management plans and consideration of new approaches tailored to shallow and mesophotic populations in order to maintain the highest level of coral metapopulation genetic diversity.High levels of M. cavernosa genetic similarity across the Gulf of Mexico coral reefs in US, Cuban, and Mexican waters provide evidential support for the need to cooperatively manage these interconnected coral populations. There are already bilateral cooperative management agreements in the form of "Memorandums of Understanding" (MOU;Strongin et al, 2022). The first of which was signed by the United States and Cuba in 2015 developing a "sister sanctuaries" program among coral reef marine protected areas including the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico), Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and Guanahacabibes and Banco de San Antonio marine protected areas in western Cuba (NOAA…”