Corals

To address the complex nature of the threats that face deep-sea and shallow coral ecosystems, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), under the auspices of the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) , works with other NOAA offices to support sound science and effective management to preserve and restore valuable shallow and deep-sea coral ecosystems.

The NMFS CRCP Program goals are to:

• Preserve, sustain, and restore the condition of reef ecosystems and species that depend on them;
• Improve our understanding of the diversity, population dynamics, and biology of commercially important coral reef species, ecosystem linkages and habitat utilization patterns;
• Obtain sound scientific information needed to manage coral reef ecosystem; and
• Promote the wise management of coral reef fisheries and sustainable use of coral reef resources for the benefit of local communities and the nation.

The primary objective of the CRCP is to address strategic coral reef management needs. The CRCP emphasizes efforts to understand and address the top three global and national threats to coral reef ecosystems: fishing impacts, land-based sources of pollution and climate change. NMFS coral activities increase our understanding of coral reef ecosystems to enhance ecosystem-based management, assess the effectiveness of management regimes in promoting species recovery, and support state, territory and Fishery Management Councils' management and research needs.