An official website of the United States government.								Here's how you know we're official.				

##### dot gov icon**Official websites use .gov**

A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

##### https icon**Secure websites use HTTPS**

A small lock or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to a .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

National Ocean ServiceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

              -  Home 
              -  Ocean Facts 
              -  TOPICS ****                  - Explore All Topics
                - Careers
                - Economy
                - Ecosystems
                - Geodesy
                - Hazards
                - Navigation
                - Observations
                - Ocean
                - Recreation
                - Sea Level Rise 
                - Story Maps
                - Tools 
              -  Education 
              -  News 
              -  Podcasts 
              -  Video 
              -  Images 
              -  About Us 

HomeAboutNOS Fiscal Year 2017 Year in Review

# Coral Reef Conservation Program

## NOS Fiscal Year 2017 Year in Review

## Funding America’s Coal Reef Conservation Efforts

            -  **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY**: Stewardship, Recreation, and Tourism 

NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program provided more than $20 million in funding, this year, for efforts that support coral reef science and management in seven U.S. states and territories. Of that, $8 million was awarded through grants and cooperative agreements to support domestic and international coral reef conservation and restoration projects across the U.S., the international Caribbean and Micronesia. Economic evaluation studies of coral reefs show that this natural resource contributes billions to the U.S. economy in terms of goods and services associated with tourism, recreation, coastal protection, and fisheries. Coral reefs are found in the following states and territories: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

----

## Global Coral Bleaching Event Subsides 

            -  **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY**: Stewardship, Recreation, and Tourism 

In 2015, NOAA declared the onset of the third observed global coral bleaching event. Since then, As of May 2017, all tropical coral reefs around the world have seen above-normal temperatures, and more than 70 percent experienced prolonged high temperatures that may have caused coral bleaching. U.S. coral reefs were hit hardest, with two years of severe bleaching in Florida and Hawaii, three years in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and four years in Guam. Although bleaching continues in multiple coral reef areas worldwide, the latest NOAA forecast shows that widespread coral bleaching is no longer occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean basins, indicating the likely end to the global coral bleaching event. Experts from NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program say that coral reefs around the world may finally catch a break from the high ocean temperatures that have lingered for more than an unprecedented three years.

----

## New Handbook Guides Coral Reef Protection Efforts

            -  **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY**: Stewardship, Recreation, and Tourism 

An inquisitive reef manta ray casually glides past a pair of divers conducting a survey. (NOAA)

A Handbook on Coral Reef Impacts was published in 2017 as a tool to help people and organizations understand, avoid, and minimize coral reef issues, and to identify potential options for compensating for unavoidable coral reef impacts. The handbook was developed by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, of which NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program is an active member. 

----

## Workshop Advances Science and Practice of Caribbean Coral Restoration

            -  **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY**: Stewardship, Recreation, and Tourism 

Divers maintain young corals growing in a nursery. (NOAA)

Nearly 200 international coral reef experts participated in a workshop to foster collaboration on restoring Caribbean corals. They discussed new research showing that healthy reefs help prevent coastal flooding, a recovery plan for restoration and coral outplanting, and ways to establish sexually reproductive coral populations. Participants will follow up with topical webinars, online trainings, a recommendations document, and a coral restoration consortium. The workshop was co-hosted by several NOAA program offices and was supported by the Coral Reef Conservation Program, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, and National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources.

----

## International Initiative Tackles Multiple Coral Reef Threats

            -  **SUPPORTS NOS PRIORITY**: Stewardship, Recreation, and Tourism 

Coral reefs face unprecedented dangers related to climate change, marine pollution, and other perils. The U.S. and other members of the International Coral Reef Initiative passed recommendations to combat reef bleaching and microbead marine pollution and strengthen the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network through 2018. At a meeting in Paris, France, members also designated 2018 as the Third International Year of the Reef. NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program supports the International Coral Reef Initiative, which highlights the pivotal role of coral reefs and ecosystems in food security, environmental sustainability, and cultural well-being.

###### CRCP **Highlights**

            - **Funding America’s Coal Reef Conservation Efforts
            - **Global Coral Bleaching Event Subsides 
            - **New Handbook Guides Coral Reef Protection Efforts
            - **Workshop Advances Science and Practice of Caribbean Coral Restoration
            - **International Initiative Tackles Multiple Coral Reef Threats

###### **NOS Accomplishments**

          - NOS By The Numbers 2017
          - Browse by  Hurricane :
          -  Hurricane Harvey
          -  Hurricane Irma
          -  Hurricane Maria
          - Browse by  Office :
          -  Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services
          -   YOU ARE HERE: Coral Reef Conservation Program
          -  Integrated Ocean Observing System
          -  Coral Reef Conservation Program
          -  National Geodetic Survey
          -  NOS Management and Budget
          -  Office for Coastal Management 
          -  Office of Coast Survey
          -  Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
          -  Office of Response and Restoration

            - Provide Feedback 
            -  Contact Us 
            -  Report an error 

##### Science. Service.Stewardship.

###### 						About NOS 					

            - About Us
            - NOS Program Offices
            - Media Inquiries
            - Website Acknowledgements

###### 						Resources 					

            - Site Index
            - Disclaimer
            - Freedom of Information Act
            - Accessibility

###### 						More Resources 					

            - Information Quality
            - Privacy Policy
            - NOS For Employees
            - USA.gov

          -  National Ocean Service
          -  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
          -  Department of Commerce

##### 						Social 					

            - 
            - 
            - 
            - 
            -