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The Coral Reef Conservation Program is a partnership between the NOAA Line Offices that work on coral reef issues. We bring together expertise from across NOAA for a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and conserving coral reef ecosystems.

Diver going in the water off of a small boat.

Meet the Coral Program

Meet the Coral Program Story Map: Established in 2000, NOAA's Coral Program is a matrixed program across NOAA Line Offices. We use a resilience-based management approach, focused on conservation that supports the ability of corals to withstand and recover from stress. This story map teaches you all about our work from the view of our people - so come along and meet the Coral Program! Focal areas of the Program include climate change, land-based sources of pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, disease, and coral restoration.

Coral with fish swimming.

Spotlight on Corals

Spotlight on Corals: Our 2023 featured story archive highlights some of the Program's accomplishments over the past year. The Coral Reef Conservation Program brings together expertise from across NOAA for a multidisciplinary approach to studying the complex coral ecosystems to inform more effective management. Collaboration is critical to coral reef conservation and we work closely with NOAA scientists in the National Ocean Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service.

Diver swimming near a brain coral showing signs of disease.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease: Atlantic-Caribbean coral reef ecosystems are in the midst of an unprecedented outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). Characterized by rapid spread, rapid tissue loss, and high mortality rates, SCTLD has affected corals along the entirety of Florida's Coral Reef and in 22 Caribbean countries and territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). This page provides NOAA's strategy on addressing SCTLD, including prevention, preparedness, and response plans.