African Parks. Sudan Expedition

Provides day-by-day accounts and photos from a July 2006 expedition to assess biodiversity at two Sudan MPAs which have coral reefs in excellent condition: Sanganab Atoll Marine National Park, and Dungonab Bay-Mukkawar Island MPA. Expedition also laid out permanent monitoring sites.

Areas Marinas Protegidas de Puerto Rico y el Gran Caribe (Marine Protected Areas in Puerto Rico and the Wider Caribbean).

Spanish language weblog serving as a forum for sharing information on design and implementation of MPAs in the Puerto Rico and Wider Caribbean region. Includes categories for news, meetings, and research, and provides links to related blogs, publications, and web sites. Some postings are in English.

Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean

AMLC is a confederation of more than 30 marine research, education, and resource management institutions endeavoring to encourage the production and exchange of research and resource management information, advance the cause of marine and environmental education in the region, and facilitate cooperation and mutual assistance among its membership. This web site gives information and news about the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean.

Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program

Web site for international collaboration of scientists and managers working to determine the regional condition of reefs in the Western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Preliminary findings have provided data helpful for selection of marine protected areas.

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) was established in 1972 to promote the sustainability of the marine environment. AIMS monitors the changes to reefs and reef fishes throughout the Asia-Pacific.

CORAL - The Coral Reef Alliance

The mission of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is to keep coral reefs alive. CORAL works with local and national governments and divers among others to ensure the conservation of coral reefs and is active in the establishment of coral reef parks.

CORDIO (Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean)

The CORDIO program is a collaborative project involving researchers from 11 in the Indian Ocean. CORDIO was created in 1999 to assess the widespread degradation of the coral reefs throughout the region.

Caribbean Coral Reef Institute (CCRI)

The Caribbean Coral Reef Institute (CCRI) is a cooperative program between the University of Puerto Rico- Mayaquez (UPRM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The institute sponsor's scientific research and monitoring programs that address management-driven priorities for the understanding and managing of the US Caribbean coral reef ecosystem.

Census of Marine Life: Biogeoinformatics of Hexacorals (Corals, Sea Anemones, and their allies)

A database compilation of publications concerning taxonomy, nomenclature, and geographic distribution of extant hexacorallians. As part of the Census of Marine Life, the specimen-based database will contain three-dimensional distribution data (including geospatial precision of each record) and bibliographic reference to description of each species.

Coral Cay Conservation

Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) is an award-winning, independent organization dedicated to providing resources to help sustain the livelihoods of local communities and alleviate poverty through the protection and restoration of tropical forests and coral reefs. CCC is funded primarily by international volunteers who pay to participate on CCC projects. CCC focus studies are located in Belize, Philippines, Borneo, Indonesia, and the Isles of Scilly.

Coral Reef Ecosystem Assessment and Monitoring Database

This database provides access to images of coral reef species and habitats, which were taken during studies in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, facilitates a variety of coral reef research, management and educational opportunities. The images have been utilized by the research and management community, including the U.S. National Park Service, the University of Puerto Rico and NOAA. More than a thousand new digital photos were added to the searchable database — which includes images of fishes and invertebrates, hard and soft corals, mangroves, and seagrass beds and other benthic habitats — and may be downloaded.

Coral Reef Ecosystem reports

Various reports on the Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Plan for the Western Pacific Management Council.

Coral Reef Multimedia Project

The Coral Reef Multimedia Project is an online source for short movies and mini-documentaries to illustrate and explain coral reef dynamics and threats

Coral Reef Research Institute

The Coral Reef Research Institute was founded in 1995 to pursue a better understanding of coral reefs in Australia and other places. It is an initiative of the University of Sydney and other Australian universities. Information about the institute's research and training programs can be found on the site as well as information about the One Tree Island Research Station.

11th International Coral Reef Symposium 2008

Every four years the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) convenes as a major scientific conference to provide the latest knowledge about coral reefs worldwide. Natural scientists, resource managers and users, conservationists, economists, and educators meet together to advance coral reef science, management, and conservation. The International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS), the largest society focused on coral reefs worldwide, officially sanctions ICRS meetings. The United States and Florida will co-host the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium in July 2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. (It has been over 30 years since the ICRS was held on the U.S. mainland.) This web site provides information, events, and the schedule for the upcoming meeting in 2008.

Environmental Protection Agency Region 9: Water Program

Coral reefs are valued for their diversity and beauty, but are increasingly threatened worldwide by natural and human-caused stressors. To address threats such as land-based pollution and coastal development, EPA Region 9 is applying a range of regulatory and non-regulatory environmental programs to monitor and protect coral reefs.

Experimental Doldrums Product

NOAA Coral Reef Watch (CRW) is now offering an Experimental Doldrums Product that identifies and tracks regions of sustained low wind speed to help coral reef managers and scientists better assess conditions that may lead to coral bleaching. Wind is an important physical factor influencing conditions conducive to coral bleaching. Wind-driven mixing reduces temperature stress and wind generated waves can scatter harmful levels of incoming solar radiation. Periods of sustained low wind may therefore promote environmental conditions adverse to corals experiencing thermal and/or light stress. In collaboration with NOAA's Coast Watch and the Southwest Fisheries Science Center - Environmental Research Division, 4-day mean surface winds, derived from QuikSCAT scatterometry, are used to identify persistent regions of low wind conditions. These persistent low wind regions are imaged and made available daily in a series of formats, including our standard map images, HDF, and Google Earth, at http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/doldrums/.

Fishing Regulations Guide for the U.S. Caribbean EEZ (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) (Summary)

Information on regulations on the various reef fishes of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Amendments to the regulations are also available from this site. For details, readers should contact the Council, or refer to the comprehensive amendment or the final rule. Any discrepancies between this documents, bulletin and the final rule as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.

GEF Coral Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management Project

Funded by a public sector alliance of the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, NOAA, the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC UNESCO), the Queensland Government, and the University of Queensland, this Project seeks to coordinate and target coral reef research for the first time in the global community's history.

GNOME (the General NOAA Oil Modeling Environment)

GNOME (the General NOAA Oil Modeling Environment) is a free computer program you can use to predict how wind, currents, and other processes might move and spread oil spilled on the water, to learn how predicted oil trajectories are affected by inexactness ('uncertainty') in current and wind observations and forecasts, and to see how spilled oil is predicted to change chemically and physically ('weather') during the time that it remains on the water surface.

Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

GCRMN is a global network (from over 80 countries) of governments, NGOs, institutes, and people united in their interest in the sustainability of coral reefs. The monitoring program is used to effectively manage coral reefs throughout the world and to asses how, where and why damage is occurring and determine the best methods for prevention.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is the lead agency for Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area issues. The Authority is the principal adviser to the Commonwealth Government on the care and development the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils, which were established, by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 (now called the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act). The Council prepares fishery plans that are designed to manage fishery resources from where state waters end out to the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.

Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative Research Program

In 1998, the Hawai`i Coral Reef Initiative Research Program (HCRI-RP) was established to support scientific research and monitoring to enhance the state's capacity to manage its coral reef resources. Each year, Congress appropriates monies for HCRI-RP through NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research. In addition to research and monitoring, the program supports public awareness efforts, briefings for legislators and decision-makers, and internships and fellowships.

Hawaii Coral Reef Network

The mission of the Hawaii Coral Reef Network is to foster education and research on coral reefs by facilitating communication among the environmental, scientific, governmental, and public communities and to enhance the conservation of coral reefs through stewardship. This site was created to bring the information about coral reefs in Hawaii together in one place. There is a lot of information on corals, research, and marine life on this site.

Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology: Hawaii Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP)

The Hawaii Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program,created during 1997-98, was designed to advance coral reef research and increase the ability to manage coral reefs in Hawaii. Initially it was a network and database of 30 coral reef sites. It has been expanded to include rapid quantitative assessments and habitat mapping.

International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)

The International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) is an integrated and collaborative partnership to halt and reverse the decline in health of the world's coral reefs. Through assessment, awareness-raising, training and demonstration projects in four Regional Seas, ICRAN strives to educate people on the sustainable use and management of coral reefs. It is one of the three operational units of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and is supported by the United Nations Foundation (UNF).

International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a collaborative effort among governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to implement international agreements to preserve coral reefs and related ecosystems. It was formed in 1994 at the Small Island Developing States conference.

International Year of the Reef 2008

Recognizing an urgent need to increase awareness and understanding of coral reefs, and to further conserve and manage valuable coral reef and associated ecosystems, the International Coral Reef Initiative designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008). This web site gives information, news, and ideas for how to become involved in IYOR 2008.

Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society

The mission of Ocean Futures Society is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet.

Lophelia.org

Lophelia.org is an information resource on the cold-water coral ecosystems of the deep ocean, developed by two researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) as part of a wider project raising awareness of the UK's deep-sea habitats. Online games and stories are available for children.

The Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project

The purpose of the project is to understand, classify and map coral reef structures worldwide using high resolution remote sensing spaceborne images. IMARS is funded to provide an exhaustive worldwide inventory of coral reefs using high-resolution satellite imagery by the summer of 2005.

NASA Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive

In a National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)-sponsored partnership between remote sensing scientists, international agencies and NGOs, new efforts are being made to (1) develop baseline global reef maps that can be a foundation for future more detailed investigations, (2) assemble the key baseline remote sensing data that is needed for researchers to study coral reef environments, and (3) partner with international organizations to use remote sensing data for applied science problems and improve the management of coral reefs.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Coral Reef Health and Biodiversity Research

In mid-December 2005, in response to the coral bleaching event in the Caribbean, NASA Ames Research Center scientists teamed with scientists from NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation and Biogeography Programs, the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and the National Park Service (NPS) of the US Virgin Islands to investigate the status of coral bleaching in the Caribbean. This collaborative effort was in support of the US Coral Reef Task Force’s (USCRTF) resolution passed in November 2005 to mobilize Task Force agencies to assess the coral reef bleaching event, coral mortality, coral recovery, and the ecological impact of the September-October 2005 coral bleaching event in Puerto Rico (PR) and the US Virgin Islands (USVI). This web site shows the current research being done in response to this collaborative effort.

National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI)

Located at the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach, Florida, the National Coral Reef Institute was established by Congressional mandate in 1998. Each year, Congress appropriates monies for NCRI through NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research. NCRI's primary objective is the assessment, monitoring, and restoration of coral reefs through basic and applied research and through training and education.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Coral Reef Conservation Fund

For nearly a decade, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has worked with NOAA to build partnerships and leverage resources for effective stewardship of marine and coastal resources, and the communities that depend on them. NFWF accepts proposals for projects that build public-private partnerships to reduce and prevent degradation of coral reefs and associated reef habitats (e.g., seagrass beds, mangroves etc.).

Northwest Hawaiian Islands Multiagency Education Project

Web site of collaborative efforts of many agencies and organizations working together to bring the latest news and information of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The web site has an expeditions section, teachers section, kids section, and much more including photos, videos, and map satelitte images.

Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center

The Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center(PIBHMC) produces comprehensive digital maps of coral reef habitats in the United States and its Trust Territories. PIBHMC is supported by grants from NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Palau International Coral Reef Center and the Palau Aquarium

The Palau International Coral Reef Center is a self-sustaining, non-profit coral reef center and marine park that provides a forum for coral reef studies, research and education. The Center is designed to assist in improving the management, use and conservation of Palau’s and the world’s marine environment, in addition to serving as a tourist attraction. In cooperation with Japan, the United States and other countries, the Center will ensure that future generations will enjoy the reefs as this and prior generations have.

Perry Institute for Marine Science

Perry Institute for Marine Science is one of six National Undersea Research Centers that operate under the auspices of NOAA's National Undersea Research Program (NURP). It conducts undersea research primarily in the Caribbean region concentrating on coral reefs, aquaculture, conch, fish farming, and other marine resources as well as global climate.

Protecting Corals, Saving Ships

Project funded in part by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program to protect coral reef habitats from physical destruction and pollution from ships, by integrating coral, MPA, and other environmental features into electronic navigation charts and associated maritime technologies. Project is meant to protect marine resources and improve safety of navigation, and to provide important information to resource managers and navigators.

Reef Ball Foundation

The Reef Ball Foundation is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that restores coral reefs by using Reef Balls. Reef Balls are artificial reefs made of marine friendly concrete that appear to be natural reefs. There are over 1,500 projects worldwide that help create new habitats for marine life.

Reef Check Foundation

Reef Check was started in 1997. A trained international network of volunteers collect valid scientific data, thus monitoring the health of coral reefs worldwide. It is the largest international program involving recreational divers and marine scientists. In 1997, Reef Check teams completed the first global survey of coral reefs, subsequently providing evidence for the worldwide destruction of reefs. The site provides program details, results, and methodologies. Reef Check is part of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN).

Reef Environmental Education Foundation

REEF's mission, to educate and enlist divers in the conservation of marine habitats, is accomplished primarily through its Fish Survey Project. The REEF Fish Survey Project allows volunteer SCUBA divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations.

Reef Guardian International

ReefGuardian International's mission is the worldwide protection of coral reefs and their marine life. It is a non-profit group based in Miami, Florida. ReefGuardian conducts field investigations, policy analysis, agency monitoring, and advocacy. Its ReefMonitor Alliance Program is watchdog to over 60 coral reef sites in Florida, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Reef Relief

Reef Relief is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 to preserve and protect living coral reef ecosystems. The purpose of Reef Relief is to use science to educate the public while advocating the conservation, protection and restoration of coral reefs to policy makers. Links to other sites, information on corals, mangroves, wetlands, and seagrasses, article reprints, program descriptions, and photos are included.

ReefBase World Map

This interactive map can display ecological observations such as coral spawning, coral bleaching, and coral diseases. Monitoring Sites, ICRAN sites, protected areas, mangroves, coral reefs, photo locations, topography, and bathymetry are also available.

ReefBase: A Global Information System on Coral Reefs

ReefBase provides data and information on reefs throughout the world. The status on 10,000 particular reefs can be checked from its database. Maps, data, and text summaries are available.

ReefVID

ReefVid provides free access to more than 500 video clips of reefs around the world. It was created by Dr. Peter Mumby of the University of Exeter in the U.K. It is free for educational and research purposes.

SOCMON: Global Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management

"Coastal management is about managing people, not fish" is an increasingly common phrase in the marine conservation community as managers recognize the importance of understanding and incorporating community conditions into the management process. Information on the social, cultural and economic foundation of communities that rely on coastal resources is as critical as understanding the behavior, migration patterns and habitat requirements of the marine ecosystems. In particular, socioeconomic information is useful for: Determining how coastal management is contributing to community development, including poverty alleviation and equitable sharing of benefits, which is useful to determining management effectiveness; Valuing the marine resources in terms of cultural and economic significance, which is critical to lobbying for public and political support; Facilitating stakeholder involvement by gaining a greater understanding of community perceptions and needs; and, Tailoring management to the local situation, such as developing education programs based on community members' understanding of resources conditions and threats.

2nd International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium - ITMEMS

Twelve cross-cutting management themes comprised the parallel workshops in the ITMEMS2 Symposium. Some of these themes came from management issues/concerns raised in the first ITMEMS and which the participants themselves identified as priorities. The others, like the Coral Bleaching workshop, were themes continued from the first symposium. With the benefit of data accumulated since then, focus has been on the review of actions taken on these management issues and what can be done to improve them. The case studies were all carefully chosen to reflect the wide geographic, political, and cultural spectrum of marine ecosystems management. o ICRAN - People and Reefs: A Partnership for Management, Conservation and Prosperity (PDF File - 15250 KB) o Integrated Coastal Management: The Bataan Experience (PPT File - 3775 KB) o Integrated Coastal Management as a Framework for the Management of Coral Reefs and Other Coastal Ecosystems - Chua Thia-Eng (PPT File - 5310 KB)) o Report from the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium (Bali, Indonesia - October 23-27 2000) - Priority Issues For Managers (from a scientist’s perspective) - Terry Done (PPT File - 3054) o Coral Reef Unit (PPT File - 151 KB)

The Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations

The Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations was formed in 2000 to raise awareness about the vulnerability of reef fish spawning aggregations and work towards their better protection and management. The web site offers information about spawning aggregations of reef fish, regulation of fishing aggregations, and a database of over 600 records of spawning aggregation information.

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) was established by President Clinton in June 1998 through Executive Order #13089. The CRTF is responsible for overseeing implementation of the Executive Order and developing and implementing coordinated efforts to monitor and map U.S. coral reefs, research the cause and solutions to coral reef degradation, reduce this degradation, and implement strategies to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs. This web site contains links to all of the U.S. agencies and state and territory members of the CRTF.

United Nations Environment Program: Coral Reef Unit

The Coral Reef Unit of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) was established in December 2000. Its mission is to lead the international effort to save the world's coral reefs by sustainable use and conservation. It works to promote responsible tourism in coral reef areas.

Waikiki Aquarium: Corals are alive!

Description of research being done at the aquarium. The virtual tour section of the aquarium site also has sections on corals.

World Conservation Monitoring Center: Coral Reefs and Mangroves of the World

Describes how those interested in the conservation of coral reefs are uniting with those interested in saving mangroves in one common effort. This is the World Conservation Monitoring Center central site for coral reefs and mangroves; provides links to other sites, general overviews of corals, mangroves, and their ecosystems, and supplies downloadable distribution maps of coral reefs and mangrove forests in .GIF and .JPEG format.

World Conservation Monitoring Centre: Global Coral Disease Database

This database contains over 2000 records of coral disease throughout the world with 29 differently named diseases.

World Data Center for paleoclimatology - Corals and Sclerosponges

Coral data at the WDC consist of stable isotope and trace metal analyses from corals that represent proxies of upper ocean environment over the past several centuries. All data in the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology archive are contributed by research scientists.

World Ocean Observatory: Coral Reefs

The World Ocean Observatory is dedicated to information, education and public discourse about the ocean defined as an integrated global social system. This comprehensive, media-rich site features videos and podcasts, reports and forums, educational materials and more to explain and highlight the state of the world’s coral reefs.