coral reef ecology; deep-sea corals; management; marine ecosystem management; sponges

On January 20-21, 2010, scientists and resource managers met in Portland, Oregon to further define the exploration and research priorities laid out in the NOAA Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems, and to identify critical information needs for deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems off the U.S. West Coast. The ultimate goal of the workshop was to identify steps to improve the understanding, conservation, and management of these ecosystems.

site characterization; Piggy Bank

A coast-wide survey of the distribution and abundance of deep-sea corals from Washington to southern California was conducted during three legs of a cruise aboard the NOAA ship McArthur II. The final leg of this cruise focused on documenting the biology and ecology of the deep-sea coral community and habitats on Piggy Bank, a deep offshore bank in the southern California Bight.

Site Characterization; Olympic Coast

In order to meet the needs for additional information on deep-sea corals, surveys of deep-sea coral ecosystems in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary were conducted utilizing an ROV and an AUV off the NOAA Ship McArthur II in June 2010.

Coral Reef Ecology; Deep Sea Corals; Management; Marine Ecosystem Management; Planning; Research; Sponges

This document addresses an identified milestone in NOAA’s five-year Research Plan for 2005-2009 to develop a NOAA-wide research plan for deep-sea corals; and a commitment by NOAA to develop a national strategy for research and conservation of deep-sea corals and sponges in response to a petition from Oceana to protect deep-sea corals and sponge

Ecology; Habitat; Hexactinellida; Research; Sponges; Underwater Exploration

The goals of this project were to: 1) Examine the extent of the sponge reef identified in 2007 and proposed for protection by Oceana in 2009 2) Describe the associated ecosystem to assist in determining this area’s role as essential fish habitat; and 3) Provide the Pacific Fishery Management Council with additional information to assess any actions that may be needed to protect the Grays Canyon sponge area.

Florida; Lophelia; Commercial Fisheries; Habitat Areas of Particular Concern; Desmophyllum pertusum

The purpose of this study is to document the occurrence and distribution of golden crab, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, and royal red shrimp in deep-water habitats (200 meters to 900 meters) off eastern and southern Florida, within the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Coral Reef Conservation, Coral Reef Management, Deep Sea Corals, Management, Marine Ecosystem Management, Workshop Report, Information Management, Data Management

Pacific, Seamount, Assemblage

A study of bathymetric variation in benthic megafauna, based on remotely operated vehicle video transects, on Davidson seamount (1246–3656 m) in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.

Coral Reef Conservation, Coral Reef Ecology, Coral Reef Management, Marine Ecosystem Management