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NOAA Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems: Research, Management, and International Cooperation

NOAA Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems: Research, Management, and International Cooperation

In 2010, NOAA completed a Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems: Research, Management, and International Cooperation.  The Strategic Plan identifies goals, objectives, and approaches to guide NOAA’s research, management, and international cooperation activities on deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems for fiscal years 2010 through 2019. This plan integrates research and conservation needs and is intended to be a flexible, evolving document that allows NOAA and its partners to address new management challenges and priorities as appropriate. The primary goal of this Strategic Plan is to improve the understanding, conservation, and management of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems. 

The Strategic Plan addresses the requirements of the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, but is broader in scope and addresses all NOAA’s relevant mandates and programs.  As such, this plan has the potential to influence a much larger realm of NOAA activities beyond the Program.

NOAA Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems (full report, pdf, 3.8 MB)

Citation: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coral Reef Conservation Program. 2010. NOAA Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems: Research, Management, and International Cooperation. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 11. 67 pp.

Associated Document: The development of this report included a public review process that integrated input from the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the public and other agencies and NGOs. The summary of major public comments received and NOAA's responses can be viewed here.

For more information, contact:

deepseacoraldata@noaa.gov