Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program

2012 Report to Congress
Table of Contents 

About This Report ............................................................................................ 

Executive Summary .......................................................................................... 

About Deep-Sea Corals ....................................................................................

Unveiling Deep-Sea Coral Ecosystems .............................................................. 

Studying the Deep Reefs of the Southeast .............................................

Fig 1: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 

unveiled deep-sea coral ecosystems in the Southeast.............................. 

Safeguarding America’s Secret Gardens ............................................................. 

Examining Deep-Sea Corals as Fish Habitat on the 

West Coast ............................................................................................

Figure 2: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 

informs deep-sea coral management on the West Coast ........................ 

Regional Highlights ......................................................................................... 

South Atlantic Region .......................................................................... 

Gulf of Mexico Region ......................................................................... 

West Coast Region ............................................................................... 

Alaska Region ....................................................................................... 

Northeast Region ................................................................................. 

Pacific Islands Region .......................................................................... 

National Geodatabase of Deep-Sea Coral Locations............................. 

Looking to the Future ...................................................................................... 

Advancing Deep-Sea Coral Science ...................................................... 

Advancing Deep-Sea Coral Management ............................................. 

Figure 3: Looking to the Future ........................................................... 

References for Figure 3 ......................................................................... 

Appendix I: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 

supports research nationwide in 2010-2011 ......................................... 

Appendix II: Deep-sea coral distribution maps by taxon and region ................ 

Data Sources of Deep-Sea Coral Distribution Maps ......................................... 

References for Appendix II ...............................................................................

Photo Captions and Credits .............................................................................

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Table of Contents 

About This Report ............................................................................................ 

Executive Summary .......................................................................................... 

About Deep-Sea Corals ....................................................................................

Unveiling Deep-Sea Coral Ecosystems .............................................................. 

Studying the Deep Reefs of the Southeast .............................................

Fig 1: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 

unveiled deep-sea coral ecosystems in the Southeast.............................. 

Safeguarding America’s Secret Gardens ............................................................. 

Examining Deep-Sea Corals as Fish Habitat on the 

West Coast ............................................................................................

Figure 2: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 

informs deep-sea coral management on the West Coast ........................ 

Regional Highlights ......................................................................................... 

South Atlantic Region .......................................................................... 

Gulf of Mexico Region ......................................................................... 

West Coast Region ............................................................................... 

Alaska Region ....................................................................................... 

Northeast Region ................................................................................. 

Pacific Islands Region .......................................................................... 

National Geodatabase of Deep-Sea Coral Locations............................. 

Looking to the Future ...................................................................................... 

Advancing Deep-Sea Coral Science ...................................................... 

Advancing Deep-Sea Coral Management ............................................. 

Figure 3: Looking to the Future ........................................................... 

References for Figure 3 ......................................................................... 

Appendix I: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 

supports research nationwide in 2010-2011 ......................................... 

Appendix II: Deep-sea coral distribution maps by taxon and region ................ 

Data Sources of Deep-Sea Coral Distribution Maps ......................................... 

References for Appendix II ...............................................................................

Photo Captions and Credits .............................................................................

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Deep-sea corals form large, complex structures in all U.S. regions, 

providing habitats for myriad marine species. The Deep Sea 

Coral Research and Technology Program is the nation’s only 

federal research program dedicated to increasing scientific understanding 

of deep-sea coral ecosystems and is designed to provide ocean resource 

managers with scientific studies to inform conservation actions. Begun 

in 2009, and funded at $2.5M annually in FY 2010 and 2011, the 

program focuses its resources on priority regions and targeted analyses to 

maximize its conservation impact while partnering with other programs 

and organizations to enhance cost-effectiveness.

In the 2010-2011 reporting period, the program completed a three-year 

field study off the southeastern United States. The study revealed deep-sea 

coral communities never before seen off the eastern and southern coasts 

of Florida. Protecting deep-sea coral habitats like these is important to 

the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which has authority for 

fisheries in federal waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and 

eastern Florida. The Council and its Coral Advisory Panel partnered with 

the program in planning and implementing the study, and the program’s 

research findings will enable the Council to refine its coral protection 

actions while allowing sustainable fisheries to thrive. The program is 

currently analyzing the data and biological samples collected from the 

research cruises and will present the final results in 2012 to provide the 

best available science to the Council in a timely manner.

On the west coast, the program is contributing to the Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s work to review the designation of groundfish 

essential fish habitats—areas important to the survival and reproduction 

of commercially-caught, seafloor-dwelling fish—and management actions 

associated with these habitats. 

To support this review, a coordinated suite of studies funded by the program 

brought forward new descriptions of where deep-sea coral communities are, 

how fish use them as habitat, and where interactions between fishing gear 

and corals could be reduced. As the Council considers ways to safeguard 

the habitats crucial to the region’s fisheries, this knowledge is fundamental 

to effective conservation. Furthermore, the program’s findings will be used 

by multiple National Marine Sanctuaries to refine sanctuary management 

actions.

In 2010 and 2011, the program began planning for three-year field studies 

in additional regions of the United States. The program’s first research 

expedition in Alaska is scheduled to depart in 2012, and a northeast 

field study (Maine to Virginia) is slated to begin in 2013. To guide these 

regional research efforts, the program reached out to the fishing industry, 

the Regional Fishery Management Councils, state agencies, academia, and 

conservation groups to identify the key research topics that are important 

for making management decisions. 

In spite of these recent efforts by the program and more than a decade 

of research by other partners, much about deep-sea coral ecosystems in 

the United States remains unknown. Even after three successful years of 

thoughtfully planned, intensive field research by the program and partners, 

most of the area managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council is still unexplored. The South Atlantic Council has taken 

conservation action based on the available science and recognizes the need 

for further research, and it has encouraged NOAA to continue the deepsea coral research. NOAA is committed to producing quality scientific 

information to support all Regional Fishery Management Councils and 

other ocean management initiatives.

Executive Summary

4
Deep-sea corals form large, complex structures in all U.S. regions, 

providing habitats for myriad marine species. The Deep Sea 

Coral Research and Technology Program is the nation’s only 

federal research program dedicated to increasing scientific understanding 

of deep-sea coral ecosystems and is designed to provide ocean resource 

managers with scientific studies to inform conservation actions. Begun 

in 2009, and funded at $2.5M annually in FY 2010 and 2011, the 

program focuses its resources on priority regions and targeted analyses to 

maximize its conservation impact while partnering with other programs 

and organizations to enhance cost-effectiveness.

In the 2010-2011 reporting period, the program completed a three-year 

field study off the southeastern United States. The study revealed deep-sea 

coral communities never before seen off the eastern and southern coasts 

of Florida. Protecting deep-sea coral habitats like these is important to 

the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which has authority for 

fisheries in federal waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and 

eastern Florida. The Council and its Coral Advisory Panel partnered with 

the program in planning and implementing the study, and the program’s 

research findings will enable the Council to refine its coral protection 

actions while allowing sustainable fisheries to thrive. The program is 

currently analyzing the data and biological samples collected from the 

research cruises and will present the final results in 2012 to provide the 

best available science to the Council in a timely manner.

On the west coast, the program is contributing to the Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s work to review the designation of groundfish 

essential fish habitats—areas important to the survival and reproduction 

of commercially-caught, seafloor-dwelling fish—and management actions 

associated with these habitats. 

To support this review, a coordinated suite of studies funded by the program 

brought forward new descriptions of where deep-sea coral communities are, 

how fish use them as habitat, and where interactions between fishing gear 

and corals could be reduced. As the Council considers ways to safeguard 

the habitats crucial to the region’s fisheries, this knowledge is fundamental 

to effective conservation. Furthermore, the program’s findings will be used 

by multiple National Marine Sanctuaries to refine sanctuary management 

actions.

In 2010 and 2011, the program began planning for three-year field studies 

in additional regions of the United States. The program’s first research 

expedition in Alaska is scheduled to depart in 2012, and a northeast 

field study (Maine to Virginia) is slated to begin in 2013. To guide these 

regional research efforts, the program reached out to the fishing industry, 

the Regional Fishery Management Councils, state agencies, academia, and 

conservation groups to identify the key research topics that are important 

for making management decisions. 

In spite of these recent efforts by the program and more than a decade 

of research by other partners, much about deep-sea coral ecosystems in 

the United States remains unknown. Even after three successful years of 

thoughtfully planned, intensive field research by the program and partners, 

most of the area managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council is still unexplored. The South Atlantic Council has taken 

conservation action based on the available science and recognizes the need 

for further research, and it has encouraged NOAA to continue the deepsea coral research. NOAA is committed to producing quality scientific 

information to support all Regional Fishery Management Councils and 

other ocean management initiatives.

Executive Summary

4
6

Deep-sea corals can live for hundreds or thousands of years, creating 

remarkably complex communities in the depths of the oceans 

from where the light is dim to more than 10,000 feet below. 

In the United States, deep-sea coral habitats have been discovered in all 

regions on continental shelves and slopes, canyons, and seamounts. Their 

full geographic extent is still unknown because most areas have yet to be 

adequately surveyed. 

Some deep-sea coral species form reefs that, over millennia, can grow 

more than 300 feet tall. Other species shaped like bushes or trees can form 

assemblages similar to groves or forests on the seafloor. 

Nationwide, these complex structures provide habitat for many fish and 

invertebrate species, including certain commercially important ones like 

grouper, snapper, sea bass, rockfish, shrimp, and crab. Moreover, organisms 

that live in deep-sea coral habitats produce chemicals with great potential 

for biomedical uses, and some deep-sea coral species have commercial 

value as jewelry and art objects. 

Most deep-sea corals grow extremely slowly. Once damaged, the corals 

and the communities they support may take centuries to recover, if they 

recover at all. Deep-sea corals are vulnerable to disturbance caused by 

fishing gears such as bottom trawls that contact the seafloor. They can 

also be damaged by activities associated with energy exploration and 

development, cable deployment, and other activities that disturb the 

seafloor. Additionally, ocean acidification—a result of the ocean absorbing 

increased carbon dioxide—can adversely affect corals’ ability to grow or 

maintain their structures.

About Deep-Sea Corals

Deep-sea stony corals range from small individual cup corals to a few species, like this 

Lophelia pertusa colony off Eastern Florida, 

that contribute to extensive deep-water 

reefs. 

Gold corals, which belong to a single genus, 

Gerardia, are sometimes collected for jewelry. 

They are unique in that they appear to grow 

on the skeletons of other deep-sea corals and 

can live for thousands of years. 

Gorgonians, like this fan-shaped colony of 

red coral (Corallium sp.) on Davidson Seamount, are among the most diverse deepsea corals.

Black corals often resemble bushes or 

trees, and may include the oldest living marine organisms. This black coral off Hawaii 

was estimated to be over 4,000 years old.

Sea pens, like these off Alaska, are related to 

gorgonians, but unlike most other deep-sea 

corals they live in soft sediments where they 

can form large fields. 

Lace corals, like these off California, are actually hydroids and only distantly related to 

other corals.
6

Deep-sea corals can live for hundreds or thousands of years, creating 

remarkably complex communities in the depths of the oceans 

from where the light is dim to more than 10,000 feet below. 

In the United States, deep-sea coral habitats have been discovered in all 

regions on continental shelves and slopes, canyons, and seamounts. Their 

full geographic extent is still unknown because most areas have yet to be 

adequately surveyed. 

Some deep-sea coral species form reefs that, over millennia, can grow 

more than 300 feet tall. Other species shaped like bushes or trees can form 

assemblages similar to groves or forests on the seafloor. 

Nationwide, these complex structures provide habitat for many fish and 

invertebrate species, including certain commercially important ones like 

grouper, snapper, sea bass, rockfish, shrimp, and crab. Moreover, organisms 

that live in deep-sea coral habitats produce chemicals with great potential 

for biomedical uses, and some deep-sea coral species have commercial 

value as jewelry and art objects. 

Most deep-sea corals grow extremely slowly. Once damaged, the corals 

and the communities they support may take centuries to recover, if they 

recover at all. Deep-sea corals are vulnerable to disturbance caused by 

fishing gears such as bottom trawls that contact the seafloor. They can 

also be damaged by activities associated with energy exploration and 

development, cable deployment, and other activities that disturb the 

seafloor. Additionally, ocean acidification—a result of the ocean absorbing 

increased carbon dioxide—can adversely affect corals’ ability to grow or 

maintain their structures.

About Deep-Sea Corals

Deep-sea stony corals range from small individual cup corals to a few species, like this 

Lophelia pertusa colony off Eastern Florida, 

that contribute to extensive deep-water 

reefs. 

Gold corals, which belong to a single genus, 

Gerardia, are sometimes collected for jewelry. 

They are unique in that they appear to grow 

on the skeletons of other deep-sea corals and 

can live for thousands of years. 

Gorgonians, like this fan-shaped colony of 

red coral (Corallium sp.) on Davidson Seamount, are among the most diverse deepsea corals.

Black corals often resemble bushes or 

trees, and may include the oldest living marine organisms. This black coral off Hawaii 

was estimated to be over 4,000 years old.

Sea pens, like these off Alaska, are related to 

gorgonians, but unlike most other deep-sea 

corals they live in soft sediments where they 

can form large fields. 

Lace corals, like these off California, are actually hydroids and only distantly related to 

other corals.
A. Off Jacksonville, Florida, scientists discovered the shallowest Lophelia pertusa coral habitat 

in the United States to date, at approximately 

660 ft (200 m) depth. Occurring globally, Lophelia pertusa is an important reef-forming deepsea coral. 

Southeast Research

ROV and Sub Dives

Multibeam Bathymetry 

Collected

Coral Habitat Areas of 

Particular Concern

A

B

C

NOAA and partners used a wide range of high-tech tools to find 

and study deep-sea coral reef ecosystems off the southeastern 

United States in 2009-2011 with support from the Deep Sea 

Coral Research and Technology Program. The study consisted of seven 

research cruises and post-cruise analyses of the videos, photos and biological samples collected. 

Locations where the program conducted 58 ROV and submersible dives 

are in pink. Areas where the program mapped the seafloor with multibeam, totaling 1,480 square miles, are in red. The highlights of the preliminary findings to date are:

Fig 1: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program unveiled deep-sea coral ecosystems 

in the Southeast

8
A. Off Jacksonville, Florida, scientists discovered the shallowest Lophelia pertusa coral habitat 

in the United States to date, at approximately 

660 ft (200 m) depth. Occurring globally, Lophelia pertusa is an important reef-forming deepsea coral. 

Southeast Research

ROV and Sub Dives

Multibeam Bathymetry 

Collected

Coral Habitat Areas of 

Particular Concern

A

B

C

NOAA and partners used a wide range of high-tech tools to find 

and study deep-sea coral reef ecosystems off the southeastern 

United States in 2009-2011 with support from the Deep Sea 

Coral Research and Technology Program. The study consisted of seven 

research cruises and post-cruise analyses of the videos, photos and biological samples collected. 

Locations where the program conducted 58 ROV and submersible dives 

are in pink. Areas where the program mapped the seafloor with multibeam, totaling 1,480 square miles, are in red. The highlights of the preliminary findings to date are:

Fig 1: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program unveiled deep-sea coral ecosystems 

in the Southeast

8
10
10
B

A

B

B

B

B

West Coast Research

Structure-forming corals

Bottom trawling closures

Bottom trawling eort

Total hours in 2009

.4 - 18

226 - 1000 

105 - 226

48 - 105

18 - 48

A. Results of visual surveys of a glass sponge habitat 

forming “gardens” off southern Washington. This picture 

shows sponges with rockfish at a site near Grays Canyon.

Findings from studies funded by the program are submitted to the 

Pacific Fishery Management Council to help the Council make informed decisions in describing, identifying, and conserving groundfish EFH. 

The following products have been submitted to, or are being prepared for, 

the Council’s EFH Review Committee: 

Figure 2: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program informs deep-sea coral 

management on the West Coast

12
B

A

B

B

B

B

West Coast Research

Structure-forming corals

Bottom trawling closures

Bottom trawling eort

Total hours in 2009

.4 - 18

226 - 1000 

105 - 226

48 - 105

18 - 48

A. Results of visual surveys of a glass sponge habitat 

forming “gardens” off southern Washington. This picture 

shows sponges with rockfish at a site near Grays Canyon.

Findings from studies funded by the program are submitted to the 

Pacific Fishery Management Council to help the Council make informed decisions in describing, identifying, and conserving groundfish EFH. 

The following products have been submitted to, or are being prepared for, 

the Council’s EFH Review Committee: 

Figure 2: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program informs deep-sea coral 

management on the West Coast

12
14 

Regional Highlights

South Atlantic Region

The three-year field study to investigate deep-sea coral ecosystems in the 

southeast, as previously described on page page 7, serves the needs 

of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which has authority 

over fisheries in federal waters from North Carolina to Key West. 

The Council and NOAA have been proactive in protecting deep-sea coral 

reefs by establishing five deepwater Coral Habitat Areas of Particular 

Concern (C-HAPCs) totaling 24,215 square miles in 2010, where fishing 

gears that contact the seafloor are prohibited and coral habitat is protected. 

Within the C-HAPCs, there are areas where small-scale traditional fisheries 

that use bottom-contact gear to catch golden crab and royal red shrimp 

are allowed. As the Council continues to find ways to best conserve coral 

habitats while preserving fishing interests, it is looking to the Deep Sea 

Coral Research and Technology Program and other NOAA programs and 

offices to determine the precise locations and ecological importance of the 

coral habitats so the boundaries of the C-HAPCs and allowable fishing 

areas can be refined. 

To align the program’s three-year study with the Council’s needs, the 

program not only involved the Council representatives in the initial 

design of the study but also partnered with members of the Council’s 

Coral Advisory Panel in five of the program’s seven research cruises. 

Furthermore, as the study entered the final analysis phase in late 2011, 

NOAA presented the preliminary findings to the advisory panel to keep 

the Council informed (Figure 2). Final results are scheduled to be released 

in a report in late 2012. 

In recognition of the value of the preliminary findings provided by the 

program, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council chairman 

thanked NOAA for its research in the region over the last three years, 

referring to the preliminary results as “instrumental in providing data and 

documentation on the distribution and ecological significance of these 

resources.” In a letter to NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, the 

chairman summarized the areas where the new findings can help with the 

Council’s adaptive management to protect deep-sea coral communities. 

As much of the South Atlantic region has yet to be explored to determine 

the true extent of deep-sea coral ecosystems, the chairman recognized the 

large suite of remaining science needs and called for continued research.

Gulf of Mexico Region

In the southeast region, the program also works in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The program compiled spatial records of structure-forming deep-sea coral 

locations in the Gulf, and has increased the compilation from less than 

100 records to over 1,800. The program provided maps of these deep-sea 

coral locations to help guide efforts for the response and Natural Resource 

Damage Assessment following the Deepwater Horizon MC252 oil spill. 

Building on this knowledge of deep-sea coral locations, in 2011 the 

program initiated a study to use computer models to predict additional 

habitat areas in the Gulf of Mexico that may be suitable for deep-sea corals. 
14 

Regional Highlights

South Atlantic Region

The three-year field study to investigate deep-sea coral ecosystems in the 

southeast, as previously described on page page 7, serves the needs 

of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which has authority 

over fisheries in federal waters from North Carolina to Key West. 

The Council and NOAA have been proactive in protecting deep-sea coral 

reefs by establishing five deepwater Coral Habitat Areas of Particular 

Concern (C-HAPCs) totaling 24,215 square miles in 2010, where fishing 

gears that contact the seafloor are prohibited and coral habitat is protected. 

Within the C-HAPCs, there are areas where small-scale traditional fisheries 

that use bottom-contact gear to catch golden crab and royal red shrimp 

are allowed. As the Council continues to find ways to best conserve coral 

habitats while preserving fishing interests, it is looking to the Deep Sea 

Coral Research and Technology Program and other NOAA programs and 

offices to determine the precise locations and ecological importance of the 

coral habitats so the boundaries of the C-HAPCs and allowable fishing 

areas can be refined. 

To align the program’s three-year study with the Council’s needs, the 

program not only involved the Council representatives in the initial 

design of the study but also partnered with members of the Council’s 

Coral Advisory Panel in five of the program’s seven research cruises. 

Furthermore, as the study entered the final analysis phase in late 2011, 

NOAA presented the preliminary findings to the advisory panel to keep 

the Council informed (Figure 2). Final results are scheduled to be released 

in a report in late 2012. 

In recognition of the value of the preliminary findings provided by the 

program, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council chairman 

thanked NOAA for its research in the region over the last three years, 

referring to the preliminary results as “instrumental in providing data and 

documentation on the distribution and ecological significance of these 

resources.” In a letter to NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, the 

chairman summarized the areas where the new findings can help with the 

Council’s adaptive management to protect deep-sea coral communities. 

As much of the South Atlantic region has yet to be explored to determine 

the true extent of deep-sea coral ecosystems, the chairman recognized the 

large suite of remaining science needs and called for continued research.

Gulf of Mexico Region

In the southeast region, the program also works in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The program compiled spatial records of structure-forming deep-sea coral 

locations in the Gulf, and has increased the compilation from less than 

100 records to over 1,800. The program provided maps of these deep-sea 

coral locations to help guide efforts for the response and Natural Resource 

Damage Assessment following the Deepwater Horizon MC252 oil spill. 

Building on this knowledge of deep-sea coral locations, in 2011 the 

program initiated a study to use computer models to predict additional 

habitat areas in the Gulf of Mexico that may be suitable for deep-sea corals. 
Northeast Region

The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program is planning a 

three-year field study in the Northeast region (Maine to Virginia) starting 

in 2013. To support this effort, the program organized a research priorities 

workshop in 2011, where representatives from the New England and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Councils, other federal agencies, academia, 

and conservation groups shared their research ideas and management 

needs with NOAA. As has been done for other regions, the program is 

developing computer models to predict the location of potential suitable 

habitat of deep-sea corals in this region, so the fieldwork can be targeted at 

locations where corals are likely to be. 

The New England Council is considering a suite of alternatives to 

designate deep-sea coral protection zones using its discretionary authority 

provided in MSA Section 303(b)(2)(B). This would be the first use by a 

Council of this authority provided in the 2006 MSA reauthorization. In 

this process, the New England Council’s Habitat Plan Development Team 

has an ongoing collaboration with the program to refine, audit, and add 

coral location records for the northeast region. The Mid-Atlantic Council 

is a strong partner in this effort too as its representatives serve on the New 

England Council’s Habitat Committee and Habitat Plan Development 

Team. NOAA supports the Councils’ efforts to advance the management 

of known coral ecosystems of the northeast, particularly in submarine 

canyons, on seamounts, and on select high-relief areas in the Gulf of Maine 

(see Figure 3). 

The program has also supplied information on deep-sea coral locations to 

regional planning efforts by states that are members of the Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Council on the Ocean.

Pacific Islands Region 

In the 2010-2011 period, the program supported a study in the Main 

Hawaiian Islands to identify suitable habitat of pink coral (Corallium 

secundum) and gold coral (Gerardia sp.) – species of deep-sea corals 

with colored skeletons that can be made into jewelry. They are also the 

primary species of interest in a currently inactive commercial fishery and, 

as a result, more data are available than for other species of deep-sea coral 

in the Pacific Islands region. This study integrates 1,227 observations of 

the species of interest, from more than 1,100 submersible dives, with 

data on ocean current velocity, depth, and substrate type, to develop a 

predictive map of locations with a high probability of occurrences of these 

deep-sea coral species. Findings from the study will be submitted to the 

Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, which has authority over 

the precious coral fishery. Findings can also be used to guide activities 

such as route planning for subsea communications or power cables, 

dredge disposal sites, and future research on deep-water environments in 

the Main Hawaiian Islands. Fieldwork to groundtruth the predictive map 

will, in turn, enhance the prediction technique.

Regional Highlights

16
Northeast Region

The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program is planning a 

three-year field study in the Northeast region (Maine to Virginia) starting 

in 2013. To support this effort, the program organized a research priorities 

workshop in 2011, where representatives from the New England and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Councils, other federal agencies, academia, 

and conservation groups shared their research ideas and management 

needs with NOAA. As has been done for other regions, the program is 

developing computer models to predict the location of potential suitable 

habitat of deep-sea corals in this region, so the fieldwork can be targeted at 

locations where corals are likely to be. 

The New England Council is considering a suite of alternatives to 

designate deep-sea coral protection zones using its discretionary authority 

provided in MSA Section 303(b)(2)(B). This would be the first use by a 

Council of this authority provided in the 2006 MSA reauthorization. In 

this process, the New England Council’s Habitat Plan Development Team 

has an ongoing collaboration with the program to refine, audit, and add 

coral location records for the northeast region. The Mid-Atlantic Council 

is a strong partner in this effort too as its representatives serve on the New 

England Council’s Habitat Committee and Habitat Plan Development 

Team. NOAA supports the Councils’ efforts to advance the management 

of known coral ecosystems of the northeast, particularly in submarine 

canyons, on seamounts, and on select high-relief areas in the Gulf of Maine 

(see Figure 3). 

The program has also supplied information on deep-sea coral locations to 

regional planning efforts by states that are members of the Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Council on the Ocean.

Pacific Islands Region 

In the 2010-2011 period, the program supported a study in the Main 

Hawaiian Islands to identify suitable habitat of pink coral (Corallium 

secundum) and gold coral (Gerardia sp.) – species of deep-sea corals 

with colored skeletons that can be made into jewelry. They are also the 

primary species of interest in a currently inactive commercial fishery and, 

as a result, more data are available than for other species of deep-sea coral 

in the Pacific Islands region. This study integrates 1,227 observations of 

the species of interest, from more than 1,100 submersible dives, with 

data on ocean current velocity, depth, and substrate type, to develop a 

predictive map of locations with a high probability of occurrences of these 

deep-sea coral species. Findings from the study will be submitted to the 

Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, which has authority over 

the precious coral fishery. Findings can also be used to guide activities 

such as route planning for subsea communications or power cables, 

dredge disposal sites, and future research on deep-water environments in 

the Main Hawaiian Islands. Fieldwork to groundtruth the predictive map 

will, in turn, enhance the prediction technique.

Regional Highlights

16
18 
18 
A

B

C

A

B

C

Figure 3: Looking to the Future

A B

Gulf of Mexico

A. Numerous banks in the northwest Gulf of Mexico that 

harbor significant populations of deep-sea corals have been 

identified as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, but some 

of them do not carry any protection measures against the 

impacts of bottom fishing, including 29 Fathom, Sonnier, 

MacNeil and Rankin Bright Banks. 

B. Other areas observed to contain deep-sea corals, but 

have no special protections, such as Green Canyon, Mississippi Canyon, Viosca Knoll, Mississippi–Alabama Pinnacles, and southwest Florida Slope reefs

Alaska

A. Parts of the Bering Sea Slope 

B. Some of the Aleutian Island coral areas not currently protected

C. Gulf of Alaska Primnoa coral 

habitats outside the protected areas 

West Coast 

A. Areas in the Olympic Coast 

National Marine Sanctuary 

where deep-sea corals have been 

documented 

B. Parts of Astoria Canyon that 

have no special protections 

C. Certain areas of Monterey 

Canyon with no special protections

The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, through a review of its funded research and other scientific literature, has identified several locations 

where deep-sea coral habitats are in areas open to bottom fishing with gears that can damage corals. The program is committed to helping resource managers 

evaluate the need for protection at these locations, including:

Denotes U.S. 

Exclusive 

Economic 

Zone

20
A

B

C

A

B

C

Figure 3: Looking to the Future

A B

Gulf of Mexico

A. Numerous banks in the northwest Gulf of Mexico that 

harbor significant populations of deep-sea corals have been 

identified as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, but some 

of them do not carry any protection measures against the 

impacts of bottom fishing, including 29 Fathom, Sonnier, 

MacNeil and Rankin Bright Banks. 

B. Other areas observed to contain deep-sea corals, but 

have no special protections, such as Green Canyon, Mississippi Canyon, Viosca Knoll, Mississippi–Alabama Pinnacles, and southwest Florida Slope reefs

Alaska

A. Parts of the Bering Sea Slope 

B. Some of the Aleutian Island coral areas not currently protected

C. Gulf of Alaska Primnoa coral 

habitats outside the protected areas 

West Coast 

A. Areas in the Olympic Coast 

National Marine Sanctuary 

where deep-sea corals have been 

documented 

B. Parts of Astoria Canyon that 

have no special protections 

C. Certain areas of Monterey 

Canyon with no special protections

The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, through a review of its funded research and other scientific literature, has identified several locations 

where deep-sea coral habitats are in areas open to bottom fishing with gears that can damage corals. The program is committed to helping resource managers 

evaluate the need for protection at these locations, including:

Denotes U.S. 

Exclusive 

Economic 

Zone

20
Alaska A: Miller, R. J., Hocevar, J., Stone, R., & Federov, D. (In review). Structureforming corals and sponges and their use as fish habitat in Bering Sea submarine 

canyons. PLos ONE.

Alaska B: Stone, R. P., & Alcorn, D. J. (In preparation). The ecology of deep-sea coral 

and sponge habitats of the central Aleutian Islands. NOAA Professional Paper.

Alaska C: Stone, R. P., Karinen, J. F., & Masuda, M. M. (In preparation). An assessment of red tree coral ecosystems of the eastern Gulf of Alaska. 

West Coast A: Brancato, M. S., Bowlby, C. E., Hyland, J., Intelmann, S. S., & Brenkman, K. (2007). Observations of deep coral and sponge assemblages in Olympic Coast 

National Marine Sanctuary, Washington. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series 

NMSP-07-04. Silver Spring: NOAA. 

Whitmire, C. E., & Clarke, M. E. (2007). State of deep coral ecosystems of the U.S. 

Pacific Coast: California to Washington. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. Hourigan, A. W. 

Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States 

(pp. 109-154). Silver Spring, MD: NOAA. 

West Coast B and C: Whitmire and Clarke (2007), as above. 

Northeast A: Packer, D. B., Boelke, D., Guida, V., & McGee, L.-A. (2007). State of 

deep coral ecosystems in the Northeastern U.S. Region: Maine to Cape Hatteras. In 

S. E. Lumsden, T. F. Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep 

Coral Ecosystems of the United States (pp. 195-232). Silver Spring, MD: NOAA.

Hecker, B., & Blechschmidt, G. (1980). Final historical coral report for the canyon 

assessment study in the Mid- and North Atlantic areas of the U.S. outer continental 

shelf: epifauna of the northeastern U.S. continental margin. Appendix A. In Canyon 

Assessment Study. No. BLM-AA551-CT8-49. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of 

Interior, Bureau of Land Management.

Watling, L., Auster, P. J., Babb, I., Skinder, C., & Hecker, B. (2003). A Geographic 

Database of Deepwater Alcyonaceans of the Northeastern U.S. Continental Shelf and 

Slope, Version 1.0 CD-ROM. Groton: National Undersea Research Center, University 

of Connecticut.

Hecker, B., Logan, D. T., Gandarillas, F. E., & Gibson, P. R. (1983). Megafaunal assemblages in Lydonia Canyon, Baltimore Canyon, and selected slope areas. In Canyon 

and slope processes study: Vol. III, biological processes. Final report for U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (pp. 1-140). Washington, DC: Mineral 

Management Service.

Northeast B: Auster, P. J. (2005). Are deep-water corals important habitats for fishes? 

In A. Freiwald, & J. M. Roberts (Eds.), Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems (pp. 747-

760). Berlin: Springer. 

Watling et al., (2003), as above. 

South Atlantic A and B: David, A. W. (2011). Southeast Deep-Sea Coral Research and 

Technology Program (SE-DSC) 2009-2011, presentation to the South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council Coral Advisory Panel on October 25. North Charleston, SC.

Caribbean A: Lutz, S. J., & Ginsburg, R. N. (2007). State of deep coral ecosystems in 

the Caribbean Region: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. 

Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of 

the United States (pp. 307-365). Silver Spring, MD: NOAA.

Gulf of Mexico A: Rezak, R., Bright, T. J., & McGrail, D. W. (1985). Reefs and Banks 

of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico: Their Geological, Biological, and Physical Dynamics. New York: Wiley.

Etnoyer, P. (2009). Distribution and Diversity of Octocorals in the Gulf of Mexico, 

PhD Dissertation. Corpus Christi: Texas A&M University. 187 pp.

Gulf of Mexico B: Brooke, S., & Schroeder, W. W. (2007). State of deep coral ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico region: Texas to the Florida Straits. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. 

Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of 

the United States (pp. 271-306). Silver Spring: NOAA.

Gittings, S. R., Bright, T. J., Schroeder, W. W., Sager, W. W., Laswell, J. S., Rezak, R. 

(1992). Invertebrate assemblages and ecological controls on topographic features in the 

Northeast Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine Science 50(3): 435-455.

22

References for Figure 3:
Alaska A: Miller, R. J., Hocevar, J., Stone, R., & Federov, D. (In review). Structureforming corals and sponges and their use as fish habitat in Bering Sea submarine 

canyons. PLos ONE.

Alaska B: Stone, R. P., & Alcorn, D. J. (In preparation). The ecology of deep-sea coral 

and sponge habitats of the central Aleutian Islands. NOAA Professional Paper.

Alaska C: Stone, R. P., Karinen, J. F., & Masuda, M. M. (In preparation). An assessment of red tree coral ecosystems of the eastern Gulf of Alaska. 

West Coast A: Brancato, M. S., Bowlby, C. E., Hyland, J., Intelmann, S. S., & Brenkman, K. (2007). Observations of deep coral and sponge assemblages in Olympic Coast 

National Marine Sanctuary, Washington. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series 

NMSP-07-04. Silver Spring: NOAA. 

Whitmire, C. E., & Clarke, M. E. (2007). State of deep coral ecosystems of the U.S. 

Pacific Coast: California to Washington. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. Hourigan, A. W. 

Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States 

(pp. 109-154). Silver Spring, MD: NOAA. 

West Coast B and C: Whitmire and Clarke (2007), as above. 

Northeast A: Packer, D. B., Boelke, D., Guida, V., & McGee, L.-A. (2007). State of 

deep coral ecosystems in the Northeastern U.S. Region: Maine to Cape Hatteras. In 

S. E. Lumsden, T. F. Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep 

Coral Ecosystems of the United States (pp. 195-232). Silver Spring, MD: NOAA.

Hecker, B., & Blechschmidt, G. (1980). Final historical coral report for the canyon 

assessment study in the Mid- and North Atlantic areas of the U.S. outer continental 

shelf: epifauna of the northeastern U.S. continental margin. Appendix A. In Canyon 

Assessment Study. No. BLM-AA551-CT8-49. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of 

Interior, Bureau of Land Management.

Watling, L., Auster, P. J., Babb, I., Skinder, C., & Hecker, B. (2003). A Geographic 

Database of Deepwater Alcyonaceans of the Northeastern U.S. Continental Shelf and 

Slope, Version 1.0 CD-ROM. Groton: National Undersea Research Center, University 

of Connecticut.

Hecker, B., Logan, D. T., Gandarillas, F. E., & Gibson, P. R. (1983). Megafaunal assemblages in Lydonia Canyon, Baltimore Canyon, and selected slope areas. In Canyon 

and slope processes study: Vol. III, biological processes. Final report for U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (pp. 1-140). Washington, DC: Mineral 

Management Service.

Northeast B: Auster, P. J. (2005). Are deep-water corals important habitats for fishes? 

In A. Freiwald, & J. M. Roberts (Eds.), Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems (pp. 747-

760). Berlin: Springer. 

Watling et al., (2003), as above. 

South Atlantic A and B: David, A. W. (2011). Southeast Deep-Sea Coral Research and 

Technology Program (SE-DSC) 2009-2011, presentation to the South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council Coral Advisory Panel on October 25. North Charleston, SC.

Caribbean A: Lutz, S. J., & Ginsburg, R. N. (2007). State of deep coral ecosystems in 

the Caribbean Region: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. 

Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of 

the United States (pp. 307-365). Silver Spring, MD: NOAA.

Gulf of Mexico A: Rezak, R., Bright, T. J., & McGrail, D. W. (1985). Reefs and Banks 

of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico: Their Geological, Biological, and Physical Dynamics. New York: Wiley.

Etnoyer, P. (2009). Distribution and Diversity of Octocorals in the Gulf of Mexico, 

PhD Dissertation. Corpus Christi: Texas A&M University. 187 pp.

Gulf of Mexico B: Brooke, S., & Schroeder, W. W. (2007). State of deep coral ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico region: Texas to the Florida Straits. In S. E. Lumsden, T. F. 

Hourigan, A. W. Bruckner, & G. Dorr (Eds.), The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of 

the United States (pp. 271-306). Silver Spring: NOAA.

Gittings, S. R., Bright, T. J., Schroeder, W. W., Sager, W. W., Laswell, J. S., Rezak, R. 

(1992). Invertebrate assemblages and ecological controls on topographic features in the 

Northeast Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine Science 50(3): 435-455.

22

References for Figure 3:
Alaska 

FY2011

• $100,000 for identifying the location of Aleutian Island 

 corals from archived video footage 

• $32,500 for assessing the effectiveness of the Aleutian Islands

 Habitat Conservation Area in protecting deep-sea coral and

 sponge habitat

FY2010

• $20,000 Alaska research priorities workshop 

FY2009

• A Field Guide to the Deepwater Sponges of the Aleutian 

 Islands Archipelago

West Coast 

Three-year field study: $810,000 in FY2010; $945,000 in FY2011 

FY2011

• $50,000 for analysis and visualization of deep-sea coral and commercial fishing interactions in Southern California 

• $49,800 for relating distribution and abundance of deep-sea corals and sponges to habitats using predictive models

 and broad-scale seafloor maps 

• $44,686 for taxonomic and genetic identification of fisheries bycatch of deep-sea corals 

• $15,889 for analyzing coral bycatch information in the context of bottom trawling intensity off the West Coast 

FY2010

• $50,000 for assessing deep-sea coral communities from archived video surveys off California 

• $40,000 for habitat suitability modeling for deep-sea corals off the West Coast

• $40,000 for evaluation of predicted coral and sponge habitat within Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

• $39,741 for taxonomic and genetic identification of fisheries bycatch of deep-sea corals 

Appendix I: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program supports research 

nationwide in 2010-2011 

Pacific Islands

FY2010

• $47,610 for predictive modeling of the

 distribution of deep-sea corals in the

 main Hawaiian Islands 

24

FY2009

• Enhancing the West Coast Regional Deep-Sea Coral Database 

• Deep-sea coral community research off California 

• Using Cordell Bank as a model to conduct fine-scale deep-sea coral predictive habitat modeling 

• Mapping the distribution and intensity of bottom trawling efforts along the California coast 

 from 1997 to 2008, with impacts to deep-sea corals 

• Taxonomic and genetic identification of fisheries bycatch of deep-sea corals

Research projects that the program initiated in FY2010 and 2011 are listed here. Also shown here are the projects with FY2009 funding that 

concluded in 2010-2011; their funding amounts were reported in the program’s 2010 Report to Congress. Find more details on these projects at 

www.habitat.noaa.gov/deepseacorals.
Alaska 

FY2011

• $100,000 for identifying the location of Aleutian Island 

 corals from archived video footage 

• $32,500 for assessing the effectiveness of the Aleutian Islands

 Habitat Conservation Area in protecting deep-sea coral and

 sponge habitat

FY2010

• $20,000 Alaska research priorities workshop 

FY2009

• A Field Guide to the Deepwater Sponges of the Aleutian 

 Islands Archipelago

West Coast 

Three-year field study: $810,000 in FY2010; $945,000 in FY2011 

FY2011

• $50,000 for analysis and visualization of deep-sea coral and commercial fishing interactions in Southern California 

• $49,800 for relating distribution and abundance of deep-sea corals and sponges to habitats using predictive models

 and broad-scale seafloor maps 

• $44,686 for taxonomic and genetic identification of fisheries bycatch of deep-sea corals 

• $15,889 for analyzing coral bycatch information in the context of bottom trawling intensity off the West Coast 

FY2010

• $50,000 for assessing deep-sea coral communities from archived video surveys off California 

• $40,000 for habitat suitability modeling for deep-sea corals off the West Coast

• $40,000 for evaluation of predicted coral and sponge habitat within Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

• $39,741 for taxonomic and genetic identification of fisheries bycatch of deep-sea corals 

Appendix I: The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program supports research 

nationwide in 2010-2011 

Pacific Islands

FY2010

• $47,610 for predictive modeling of the

 distribution of deep-sea corals in the

 main Hawaiian Islands 

24

FY2009

• Enhancing the West Coast Regional Deep-Sea Coral Database 

• Deep-sea coral community research off California 

• Using Cordell Bank as a model to conduct fine-scale deep-sea coral predictive habitat modeling 

• Mapping the distribution and intensity of bottom trawling efforts along the California coast 

 from 1997 to 2008, with impacts to deep-sea corals 

• Taxonomic and genetic identification of fisheries bycatch of deep-sea corals

Research projects that the program initiated in FY2010 and 2011 are listed here. Also shown here are the projects with FY2009 funding that 

concluded in 2010-2011; their funding amounts were reported in the program’s 2010 Report to Congress. Find more details on these projects at 

www.habitat.noaa.gov/deepseacorals.
This appendix includes maps showing known locations of structure-forming deep-sea corals in selected U.S. regions. These maps represent the coral records in the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s national geodatabase. The maps are 

for illustrative purposes and are not meant to be used for management 

purposes. Due to the resolution of these maps, a single point may include more than one record.

The data do not represent density of coral cover but rather known locations of corals that have been compiled by the program to date and reported by taxonomic orders. Compilation of existing data is ongoing, 

and information on some orders may be incomplete. Reported coral 

locations are limited to where fishing or research has occurred. Thus, 

areas where no corals are shown on a map may reflect either an absence 

of corals or an absence of sampling. The data sources can be found on 

page 33 and include NOAA Fisheries bottom trawl survey and fisheries observer program databases, fishery management council databases, 

research cruise results, museum collections, and literature citations.

The boundaries for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) shown 

on the maps are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to 

reflect areas claimed by the United States.

Appendix II: Deep-sea coral distribution maps by taxon and region

Anthoathecatae 

(Lace Coral)

Antipatharia 

(Black Coral)

Gorgonacea 

(Gorgonian)

Scleractinia 

(Stony Coral)

Taxonomic Order:

N

W

S

E

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of the

West Coast

Anthoathecatae 

(Lace Coral)

Antipatharia 

(Black Coral)

Gorgonacea 

(Gorgonian)

Scleractinia 

(Stony Coral)

Taxonomic Order:

N

W

S

E

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of the

Southeast

Zoanthidea

(Gold Coral)

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals of the 

Gulf of Mexico

Taxonomic Order:

Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

Scleractinia (Stony Coral)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of Alaska

Taxonomic Order: Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

26
This appendix includes maps showing known locations of structure-forming deep-sea corals in selected U.S. regions. These maps represent the coral records in the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s national geodatabase. The maps are 

for illustrative purposes and are not meant to be used for management 

purposes. Due to the resolution of these maps, a single point may include more than one record.

The data do not represent density of coral cover but rather known locations of corals that have been compiled by the program to date and reported by taxonomic orders. Compilation of existing data is ongoing, 

and information on some orders may be incomplete. Reported coral 

locations are limited to where fishing or research has occurred. Thus, 

areas where no corals are shown on a map may reflect either an absence 

of corals or an absence of sampling. The data sources can be found on 

page 33 and include NOAA Fisheries bottom trawl survey and fisheries observer program databases, fishery management council databases, 

research cruise results, museum collections, and literature citations.

The boundaries for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) shown 

on the maps are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to 

reflect areas claimed by the United States.

Appendix II: Deep-sea coral distribution maps by taxon and region

Anthoathecatae 

(Lace Coral)

Antipatharia 

(Black Coral)

Gorgonacea 

(Gorgonian)

Scleractinia 

(Stony Coral)

Taxonomic Order:

N

W

S

E

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of the

West Coast

Anthoathecatae 

(Lace Coral)

Antipatharia 

(Black Coral)

Gorgonacea 

(Gorgonian)

Scleractinia 

(Stony Coral)

Taxonomic Order:

N

W

S

E

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of the

Southeast

Zoanthidea

(Gold Coral)

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals of the 

Gulf of Mexico

Taxonomic Order:

Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

Scleractinia (Stony Coral)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of Alaska

Taxonomic Order: Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

26
Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, 

gorgonian corals, and colonial stony corals. 

Structure-Forming Deep-Sea 

Corals of the Northeast

Anthoathecatae 

(Lace Coral)

Antipatharia 

(Black Coral)

Gorgonacea 

(Gorgonian)

Scleractinia 

(Stony Coral)

Taxonomic Order:

N

W

S

E

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, gorgonian corals, and colonial 

stony corals off the Northeast. 

Gorgonian

Black Coral

Stony Coral

28
Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, 

gorgonian corals, and colonial stony corals. 

Structure-Forming Deep-Sea 

Corals of the Northeast

Anthoathecatae 

(Lace Coral)

Antipatharia 

(Black Coral)

Gorgonacea 

(Gorgonian)

Scleractinia 

(Stony Coral)

Taxonomic Order:

N

W

S

E

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, gorgonian corals, and colonial 

stony corals off the Northeast. 

Gorgonian

Black Coral

Stony Coral

28
Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals of the 

Gulf of Mexico

Taxonomic Order:

Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

Scleractinia (Stony Coral)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, 

gorgonian corals, and colonial stony corals in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Gorgonian

Black Coral

Stony Coral

Lace Coral

30
Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals of the 

Gulf of Mexico

Taxonomic Order:

Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

Scleractinia (Stony Coral)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, 

gorgonian corals, and colonial stony corals in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Gorgonian

Black Coral

Stony Coral

Lace Coral

30
Gorgonian

Black Coral

Gold Coral

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of Hawaii

Taxonomic Order:

Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

Scleractinia (Stony Coral)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

Zoanthidea (Gold Coral)

Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, gorgonian corals, 

colonial stony corals, and gold corals in waters around the Hawaiian Archipelago. 

Stony Coral

Lace Coral

32
Gorgonian

Black Coral

Gold Coral

Structure-Forming 

Deep-Sea Corals 

of Hawaii

Taxonomic Order:

Anthoathecatae (Lace Coral)

Antipatharia (Black Coral)

Gorgonacea (Gorgonian)

Scleractinia (Stony Coral)

U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone

N

W

S

E

Zoanthidea (Gold Coral)

Known locations of major structure-forming species of lace corals, black corals, gorgonian corals, 

colonial stony corals, and gold corals in waters around the Hawaiian Archipelago. 

Stony Coral

Lace Coral

32
References for Appendix II:

34

California Academy of Sciences Invertebrate Zoology Collection Database; accessed in July 2011 at http://research.calacademy.org/izg/collections

Etnoyer, P. J., Cairns S. D., Reed J., & Hyland J. (In review). Deep 

Corals in the Gulf of Mexico: A Geospatial Database. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS XX. NOAA/NOS Center for 

Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, 

SC. 21 pp.

Hecker, B., Blechschmidt, G., & Gibson, P. (1980). Epifaunal zonation 

and community structure in three mid- and north Atlantic canyons—

final report for the canyon assessment study in the mid- and north 

Atlantic areas of the U.S. outer continental shelf: U.S. Department of 

the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Monograph, 139 p.

Fautin, D. G. (2011). Hexacorallians of the World. 

http://geoportal.kgs.ku.edu/hexacoral/anemone2/index.cfm

Messing, C. G., Neuman, A. C., & Lang, J. C. (1990). Biozonation of 

deep-water lithoherms and associated hardgrounds in the northeastern 

Straits of Florida: Palaios, v. 5, p. 15-33.

National Museum of Natural History Collection, Search IZ Collections: accessed in November 2011 at http://invertebrates.si.edu/index.

htm.

Reed, J. K., Pomponi, S. A., Weaver, D., Paull, C. K., & Wright, A. E. 

(2005). Deep-water sinkholes and bioherms of South Florida and the 

Pourtalès Terrace—Habitat and Fauna. Bulletin of Marine Science 77: 

267-296.

Reed, J. K., Weaver, D. C., & Pomponi, S. A. (2006). Habitat and fauna 

of deep-water Lophelia pertusa coral reefs off the southeastern U.S.—

Blake Plateau, Straits of Florida, and Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine 

Science 78: 343-375.

Scanlon, K. M., Waller, R. G., Sirotek, A. R., Knisel, J. M., O’Malley, 

J. J., & Stian, A. (2010). USGS cold-water coral geographic database—

Gulf of Mexico and western North Atlantic Ocean, version 1.0: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1351, CD-ROM. (Also 

available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1351/).

Stocks, K. (2003). SeamountsOnline: an online information system for 

seamount biology. Version 3.1. http://seamounts.sdsc.edu

Theroux, R. B., & Wigley, R. L. (1998). Quantitative composition and 

distribution of the macrobenthic invertebrate fauna of the continental 

shelf ecosystems of the northeastern United States. NOAA Technical 

Report NMFS-140. 240 pp.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and 

Assessment Program (EMAP), http://www.epa.gov/emap/. Accessed 

through OBIS July 2011.

Watling, L., Auster, P. J., Babb, I., Skinder, C., & Hecker, B. (2003). A 

Geographic Database of Deepwater Alcyonaceans of the Northeastern 

U.S. Continental Shelf and Slope: Groton, National Undersea Research 

Center, University of Connecticut, Version 1.0 CD-ROM. 

Yale University Peabody Museum Collection, Yale Invertebrate Zoology—Online Catalog: accessed July 2007 at 

http://peabody.research.yale.edu/COLLECTIONS/iz/
References for Appendix II:

34

California Academy of Sciences Invertebrate Zoology Collection Database; accessed in July 2011 at http://research.calacademy.org/izg/collections

Etnoyer, P. J., Cairns S. D., Reed J., & Hyland J. (In review). Deep 

Corals in the Gulf of Mexico: A Geospatial Database. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS XX. NOAA/NOS Center for 

Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, 

SC. 21 pp.

Hecker, B., Blechschmidt, G., & Gibson, P. (1980). Epifaunal zonation 

and community structure in three mid- and north Atlantic canyons—

final report for the canyon assessment study in the mid- and north 

Atlantic areas of the U.S. outer continental shelf: U.S. Department of 

the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Monograph, 139 p.

Fautin, D. G. (2011). Hexacorallians of the World. 

http://geoportal.kgs.ku.edu/hexacoral/anemone2/index.cfm

Messing, C. G., Neuman, A. C., & Lang, J. C. (1990). Biozonation of 

deep-water lithoherms and associated hardgrounds in the northeastern 

Straits of Florida: Palaios, v. 5, p. 15-33.

National Museum of Natural History Collection, Search IZ Collections: accessed in November 2011 at http://invertebrates.si.edu/index.

htm.

Reed, J. K., Pomponi, S. A., Weaver, D., Paull, C. K., & Wright, A. E. 

(2005). Deep-water sinkholes and bioherms of South Florida and the 

Pourtalès Terrace—Habitat and Fauna. Bulletin of Marine Science 77: 

267-296.

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Biennial Report to Congress on the

Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program

U.S. Secretary of Commerce

John Bryson

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and

Atmosphere and Administrator,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA

Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D.

Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Samuel D. Rauch III

www.NMFS.NOAA.gov

National Marine Fisheries Service

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