About the Program
NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program is the nation’s only federal research program dedicated to increasing scientific understanding of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems and providing resource managers with scientific studies to inform conservation actions. Established in 2007 under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act, the Program supports NOAA’s role in actively managing fishing impacts and other threats to deep-sea coral and sponge habitat.
Deep Sea Coral Highlights
West Coast Deep Sea Coral Initiative Final Report
Read our newly released report that highlights new information about deep-sea corals and sponges off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington, particularly within national marine sanctuaries.
Read the report2022 Report to Congress
Read our newly released 2022 Report to Congress! The report highlights impressive discoveries, science-informed management decisions, benefits of collaborative partnerships, and more.
Read the reportDeep-Sea Coral Data Portal
Access the data portal with our national deep-sea coral and sponge database, related map layers, StoryMaps, data dashboards, and more.
Data PortalRegional Research Initiatives
The Program coordinates and manages research initiatives in every region of the United States. Click on a region to learn more about our work there.