Bubblegum corals and hydrocorals are important components of Aleutian Island coral gardens. (Photo by Alberto Lindner)

Deep-sea corals are widespread throughout Alaska, including the continental shelf and upper slope of the Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, the eastern Bering Sea, and extending as far north as the Beaufort Sea. Coral distribution, abundance, and species assemblages differ among geographic regions. Gorgonians and black corals are most common in the Gulf of Alaska while gorgonians and hydrocorals are the most common corals in the Aleutian Islands. True soft corals are common on Bering Sea shelf habitats. Overall, the Aleutian Islands have the highest diversity of deep-sea corals in Alaska, and possibly in the North Pacific Ocean, including representatives of six major taxonomic groups and at least 50 species or subspecies of deep-sea corals that may be endemic to that region. In the Aleutian Islands, corals form high density “coral gardens” that are similar in structural complexity to shallow tropical reefs and are characterized by a rigid framework, high topographic relief and high taxonomic diversity.

Deep-sea corals are an important component of benthic ecosystems in Alaska. Highly varied submarine geology, persistent water currents, and plankton rich waters support at least 141 species from six major taxonomic groups. Deep corals have a broad depth distribution within the region. Although, the Aleutian Islands support the highest diversity and abundance of corals in Alaska waters, other subregions, such as the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea, support important single-species assemblages of gorgonians, pennatulaceans, and true soft corals.

Gorgonian corals provide important refuge habitat for many of Alaska’s fish and shellfish species.

Many of the commercial fish and crab species currently harvested in Alaska spend all or part of their life cycle in deep habitat where corals are potentially found. As the world population continues to grow and the demand for seafood increases in the future, conservation of Alaska’s deep coral resources will be a major challenge for managers striving to maintain sustainable fisheries. In recognition of the value of both shallow and deep coral habitat conservation, NOAA has listed corals as one of nine programs within the Ecosystems goal in its strategic plan—the only taxa explicitly listed in the Strategic Plan, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 mandates continued research, mapping, and protection of deep coral communities.

Contact:
Bob Stone
Auke Bay Laboratories
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries

Auke Bay Marine Station
11305 Glacier Hwy
Juneau AK 99801
Bob.Stone@noaa.gov

Featured Research, Publications, Posters, Reports, and Activities

• Forecast fish, shellfish and coral population responses to ocean acidification in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea: an ocean acidification research plan for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.
  SIGLER, M. F., R. J. FOY, J. W. SHORT, M. DALTON, L. B. EISNER, T. P. HURST, J. F. MORADO, and R. P. STONE. 2008. Forecast fish, shellfish and coral population responses to ocean acidification in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea: an ocean acidification research plan for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. AFSC Processed Rep. 2008-07, 35 p. Alaska Fish. Sci. Cent., NOAA, Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., 17109 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau AK 99801. (.pdf, 1.09MB).  Online.
   
• State of deep coral ecosystems of the United States: Introduction and national overview
  HOURIGAN, T. F., S. E. LUMSDEN, G. DORR, A. W. BRUCKNER, S. BROOKE, and R. P. STONE. 2007. State of deep coral ecosystems of the United States: Introduction and national overview, p. 1-64. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, and G. Dorr (editors), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. CRCP-3. (.pdf, 6.38MB).  Online.
   
• State of deep coral ecosystems in the Alaska Region: Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
  STONE, R. P., and S. K. SHOTWELL. 2007. State of deep coral ecosystems in the Alaska Region: Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, p. 65-108. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, and G. Dorr (editors), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. CRCP-3. (.pdf, 4.7MB).  Online.
   
• Age and Growth of Three Bamboo Coral Species from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean
  By:  ALLEN H. ANDREWS, ROBERT P. STONE, CRAIG C. LUNDSTROM, ANDREW P. DeVOGELAERE
  Conference:  Deepsea Coral Symposium 2008, Wellington, New Zealand, Dec 2008
  (2008 poster, .pdf, 250KB)   Online.
   
• Damage and Disturbance to Coral and Sponge Habitat in the Aleutian Archipelago
  By:  J. HEIFETZ, R. STONE, K. SHOTWELL
  Conference:  Deepsea Coral Symposium 2008, Wellington, New Zealand, Dec 2008
  (2008 poster, .pdf, 151KB)   Online.
   
• Tag Retention and Effects of Tagging on Movement of the Giant Red Sea Cucumber
  
  
• Southeast Alaska: Oceanographic Habitats and Linkages
  
  
• The Potential Role of Water-column Stability and Nutrients in Structuring the Zooplankton Community
  
  
• Stock-Structured Distribution of Western Alaska Juvenile Chinook Salmon From United States BASIS Surveys, 2002-07
  
  
• BASIS Symposium Held in Seattle
  
  
• Spatial Distribution, Energetic Status, and Food Habits of Eastern Bering Sea Age-0 Walleye Pollock
  
  
• Stone, R. P. 2006. Coral habitat in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska: depth distribution, fine-scale species associations, and fisheries interactions. Coral Reefs 25: 229-238.
• Heifetz, J., B. L. Wing, R. P. Stone, P. W. Malecha, and D. L. Courtney. 2005. Corals of the Aleutian Islands. Fisheries Oceanography 14 (Suppl. 1): 131-138.
• Brooke, S. and R. Stone. 2007. Reproduction of deep-water hydrocorals (Family Stylasteridae) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Bulletin of Marine Science 81(3): 519-532.
• Stone, R. P. 2005. Exploring deep-sea coral habitat on the edge - Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Current:The Journal of Marine Education 21 (4): 18-121.
• Deep Sea Coral Distribution and Habitat in the Aleutian Archipelago (.pdf, 17.3MB).

See the publications and poster databases for additional listings.