The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s convened a 2-day science priorities workshop on April 16-17, 2018 at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The purpose of the workshop was to build partnerships and set research priorities for the Program’s 4-year West Coast Deep-Sea Coral Initiative (WCDSCI; 2018-2021).

This Science Plan presents the objectives, proposed work-plan, and anticipated outcomes for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration West Coast Deep-Sea Coral Initiative under the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program. The four-year Initiative (FY 2018-2021) is designed to work with partners to discover, map, characterize, explore, and conduct research on deepwater coral and sponge habitats in support of natural resource management off California, Oregon and Washington.

This report summarizes the objectives, accomplishments, and outcomes of NOAA's West Coast Deep-Sea Coral Initiative, funded by the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program. The four-year initiative (2018-2021) was designed to explore, map, characterize, and conduct research on deep-sea coral and sponge habitats in the Pacific Fishery Management Council region, inclusive of waters off California, Oregon, and Washington.

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.

deep-sea corals; fish surveys; ocean bottom ecology; remote sensing; sponges

Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys were conducted from NOAA’s state‐of‐the‐art Fisheries Survey Vessel (FSV) Bell M. Shimada during a six‐day transit November 1‐5, 2010 between San Diego, CA and Seattle, WA. The objective of this survey was to locate and characterize deep‐sea coral and sponge ecosystems at several recommended sites in support of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program.

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cold-water corals; deep-sea; Eastern Pacific; reproduction; fecundity; octocoral; Swiftia

This study examined the reproductive ecology of eight Eastern Pacific deep-sea octocorals, collected from Washington to Southern California. The sexuality, reproductive mode, oocyte size, and fecundity of each species were identified using histological techniques.

conservation; deep-sea corals; effect of humans on; habitat; marine ecosystem management; seamounts; sponges

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 report provides a summary of the methods and results from underwater surveys of corals, sponges, and associated habitats, invertebrates, and fishes conducted during Leg 3 of the cruise using the ROV on a deep rocky seamount in the Southern California Bight.

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

This work was carried out to provide new information on the locations, densities, and condition of deep-sea corals and their role as essential fish habitat within proposed conservation areas to help fill scientific data gaps and provide new information pertinent to pending management considerations (via provisions of Magnuson-Stevens Act and/or the National Marine Sanctuaries Act) in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Site Characterization; Olympic Coast

This report on a 2006 deep-sea coral survey expands on the previous publication to include quantification of habitat types and the distribution/abundance of deep-sea corals and sponges in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.