Texas Fauna Project

Brain Coral

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Dr. Steve Gittings, the first manager of the Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary, and now the chief scientist for the National Marine Sanctuary program at NOAA, rejoices in the current health of the Flower Gardens. However, here he recounts the various risks posed by the reef's future - including sea urchin die-off, lionfish encroachment, disease spread, coastal development, and tourism pressure, all in addition to the rising impact of climate change.