Clinic Project Proposal: Northern Reefs, Palau

DESCRIPTION

The Northern Reefs of Palau are composed of an area of approximately 237 square miles of reef that extends from Velasco Reef in the north all the way to the coastal reefs of northern Babeldaob Island, Palau's largest island. These Northern Reefs are home to considerable habitat diversity including: deep water channels (with grouper and other fish aggregations), shallow barrier reefs, atolls, shallow lagoons with patch reefs, deep lagoons with patch reefs, fringing reefs, deep submerged reefs, high seas areas, estuaries and mangroves. Although the true extent is not yet known, diversity of organisms is likely to reflect the diversity of habitats. These reefs are important habitat for fish, marine turtle, trochus, giant clam and other invertebrates. The eight major channels in the reefs north of Babeldaob Island are known by local fishermen as important spawning aggregation sites. The southern portion of the area contains large seagrass beds that are important feeding areas for dugongs.

CREATION DATE	April 8, 2009
LAST MODIFIED	April 8, 2009
CREATED BY	Kristin Richards Betz
KEYWORDS	Climate Clinic; project proposal; Northern Reefs Palau; Coastal/Marine
DOCUMENT PURPOSE	Site Profiles
PUBLICATION YEAR	No Publication Year
LICENSE	Attribution Non-Commercial