Presidential Executive Order #13089 (pdf, 61 kb)

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) was established in 1998 by Presidential Executive Order #13089 to lead U.S. efforts to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. Co-chaired by the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior, the CRTF includes leaders of 12 federal agencies, seven U.S. states and territories, and three freely associated states. Learn more about the CRTF at http://www.coralreef.gov/.

The National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs (NAP) (pdf, 211 kb)

In 2000, the CRTF adopted the NAP, the first U.S. plan to comprehensively address the most pressing threats to coral reefs. Learn more about the NAP at http://www.coralreef.gov/.

Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (CRCA) (pdf, 36 kb)

The CRCA formally established NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program and laid out a number of mandates for NOAA aimed at the preservation, sustainability and restoration of U.S. coral reef ecosystems.

A National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Report to Congress 2002-2003 (NAS) (pdf, 2.06 mb)

In September 2002, NOAA, in cooperation with the CRTF, released the NAS, a nation-wide status report to Congress on implementation of the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. Learn more about the NAS at http://coris.noaa.gov/activities/actionstrategy/.

Implementation of the National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Report to Congress on U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Agency Activities From 2002 to 2003

In September 2005, NOAA, in cooperation with the CRTF, released this document, which provides a nation-wide status report on implementation of the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.

Implementation of the National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Report to Congress (2008)

In June 2008, NOAA, in cooperation with the USCRTF, released this document, which is the second of the biennial progress reports required by the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. The report provides summaries and examples of the activities conducted by the USCRTF members and their extramural partners in 2004 to 2006 to implement the thirteen goals addressed in the National Coral Reef Action Strategy. It also presents a brief analysis of the future opportunities and challenges facing coral reef ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

U.S. Ocean Action Plan

On September 20, 2004, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy completed a thorough and expansive report, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century. On December 17, 2004, President Bush submitted to Congress his formal response, the U.S. Ocean Action Plan. Pages 20-21 of the report focus specifically on the promotion of coral reef and deep coral conservation and education.

Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program

On March 13th, NOAA released the first report to Congress on the Implementation of the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, called for in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSRA). The report provides information on steps taken by NOAA and its partners to identify, monitor, and protect deep sea coral areas. Sections provide a brief discussion of current knowledge and knowledge gaps about deep sea corals (also known as deep water or cold-water corals), NOAA's expertise and authorities to conserve deep sea coral communities, and summaries of management actions taken by NOAA, the Fishery Management Councils, other federal agencies, and international organizations in 2007. The final section highlights research priorities for 2009 and recommendations for addressing knowledge gaps.

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002

Called for by the NAP, this is the first biennial report on the condition of U.S. coral reefs. It is the scientific baseline for subsequent reports on the health of U.S. coral reef ecosystems that are to be used by NOAA and others to evaluate the efficacy of coral reef conservation and management practices.

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005

This is the second in the series of reports characterizing the condition of shallow water coral reef ecosystems in the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States. The first report provided a broad introduction to and a preliminary look at the status of coral reef ecosystems and was based primarily on qualitative information from the contributing authors. The 2005 report differs from its predecessor in that it is based primarily on the most recent quantitative monitoring data available, rather than qualitative assessments of ecosystem conditions.

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008

This is the third in the series of reports characterizing the condition of shallow water coral reef ecosystems in the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States. This report is similar to the first report in that it incorporates the work of many scientists and managers from across the world. The first report provided a broad introduction to and a preliminary look at the status of coral reef ecosystems and was based primarily on qualitative information from the contributing authors. The 2005 and 2008 report differ from the 2002 report in that the more recent reports are based primarily on the most current quantitative monitoring data available, rather than qualitative assessments of ecosystem conditions.

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2004

This biennial report documents how human activities continue to be the primary cause of the global coral reef crisis. Written by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and the International Coral Reef Initiative, the report contains the recommendations and requests from over 80 countries to conserve and manage their coral reef resources. The Status of Coral Reefs of the World series is also available for 2002, 2000, and 1998.

The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States: 2007

NOAA released a new report prepared by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program. The report, written by experts in seven regions around the country, provides an up-to-date assessment of deep coral ecosystems in U.S. waters including: the biology of deep corals and their associated species, their spatial distribution, the stressors that may threaten their survival, current management measures, and regional priorities for future research.

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Summary of 2003 Accomplishments (pdf, 405 kb)
or Text Only Version (pdf, 132 kb)

This 9-page document summarizes the Fiscal Year 2003 activities of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Summary of 2004 Accomplishments (pdf, 1.8 mb)

This 11-page document summarizes the Fiscal Year 2004 activities of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Summary of 2005 Accomplishments (pdf, 125 kb)

This 3-page document summarizes the Fiscal Year 2005 activities of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Summary of 2006 Accomplishments (pdf, 101 kb)

This 2-page document summarizes the Fiscal Year 2006 activities of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Summary of 2007 Accomplishments (pdf, 104 kb)

This 2-page document summarizes the Fiscal Year 2007 activities of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Progress Report: The Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program

In December 2003 the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program released a report to Congress on the implementation of the Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program, established by the CRCA. The report provides an overview of the program, highlights its achievements in each of the topic areas, and provides specific information on all 83 grants awarded in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

Profiles of NOAA's Activities on Deep Coral Communities (pdf, 1.3 mb)

This evolving document provides an overview of NOAA's deep coral communities-related activities, with the purpose of supplying a tool for identifying connections and potential collaborations among programs.