Coral communities can be affected by distant linked sources of stress, such as deforestation and development in a watershed that cause erosion and release sediments that smother reefs. Such far-off sources may be difficult to identify and even more difficult to control.

• While watersheds are not obvious or easy candidates to include in coral reef MPAs, they may be connected to reefs by streams and coastal currents. Damaging activities in a linked watershed will need to be controlled by a “reefs to ridges” approach to MPA planning, or by coastal zone management approaches that complement the concerns of MPA planning.