Ecosystem Goal: Corals Program

Program Manager:  David Kennedy
Program Coordinator:  Roger Griffis

Web site:  www.coralreef.noaa.gov

Brief Program Description:

NOAA has significant responsibilities to conserve and manage coral reef resources as outlined in legal and administrative mandates and international treaties. NOAA works closely with other Federal agencies, state and territory governments, and NGO partners to reduce the impacts of key threats to coral reef ecosystems. NOAA serves as co-chair of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, established by Executive Order 13089 to lead and coordinate U.S. efforts, and helps implement coral reef conservation actions in response to threats identified as high priority by the Task Force, including over fishing, land-based sources of pollution, climate change and coral bleaching, disease, recreational overuse and misuse, and lack of public awareness. As part of its national program, NOAA also provides direct assistance to states and territories to aid their efforts in critical initiatives, such as coral reef management, monitoring and research.

• Understand the impacts of climate change and coral disease on coral reef ecosystems and develop approaches to enhance resilience of corals
• Reduce direct physical impacts from maritime industry and natural/non-natural hazards
• Reduce impacts from coastal uses and land-based activities
• Reduce over fishing and other adverse impacts from commercial and recreational fishing
• Deep-sea coral and sponge communities located, understood and adverse impacts from fishing and other causes of decline reduced
• Educate decision-makers and stakeholders on coral reef condition, issues, and needed actions
• Increase local technical expertise and management capacity
• Observe Coral reef ecosystems and their stressors
• Expand monitoring parameters to fill critical gaps
• Conduct targeted outreach and education

President’s FY 05 budget request:  $26.5M