- Gulf of Mexico Coral Disease DashboardCoral disease is emerging as a major factor in the degradation of many coral reefs, and surveys indicate that significant and damaging new… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Spawning, aggregations and connectivity in the GulfMany economically important coral reef fishes (e.g., groupers, snappers) in the Gulf migrate to specific places to form spawning aggregations and can result… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Non-climatic stressors for corals in the GulfReef-building corals are increasingly being exposed to persistent threats that operate on both regional and global scales, and there is a need to… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Coral Reef Invasive SpeciesCoral cover can be influenced by biotic stressors such as the presence of invasive species and substrate competition with other benthic invertebrates. Invasive… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Climate Change Impacts to Reef Associated SpeciesClimate Change affects the corals as well as fishes and other organisms associated with the reefs. Shifting the the overall architecture of the… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Ancient Deep-Sea CoralsSome of the oldest known benthic marine organisms are black corals of genus Leopathes. These ancient deep-sea corals (Leiopathes spp.) are very slow-growing… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Final Rule Implementing Coral Amendment 9 in Gulf of MexicoNOAA Fisheries announces the final rule implementing Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coral and Coral Reef Resources in Gulf of… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Deep Sea Soft CoralsDeep-sea soft corals (Callogorgia spp.) are abundant foundation species (species which built main reef structure), often occurring as extensive fields of colonies in the… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Deep Sea Black CoralsThe deep-water environment found off the west coast of Florida proved to be a good habitat for diverse deep-water coral communities. Black corals… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Endangered Corals from the Gulf of MexicoGulf council produced a set of pamphlets which highlights basic information about Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed corals from the Gulf of Mexico.… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- ESA Coral ExplorerIn September 2014, NOAA Fisheries published a federal register notice that listed seven coral species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Causes of Coral Reef DeclineWhile corals have been resilient to changing oceans throughout time, oceans are changing at an unprecedented rate. Slow-growing corals may not be able… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Deep-water Coral in the Gulf of MexicoDeep-water corals are some of the strangest habitats on earth. These corals live at depths of 1000 feet or more where sunlight doesn’t… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Orange Sea Fans of the DeepOrange sea fans (Swiftia exserta) or red polyp octocoral are a type of gorgonians that belong to the group of non-photosynthetic cnidarian species. These… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Threatened Corals in the Gulf of MexicoUnderstanding what corals need to survive is crucial to protect and conserve them, particularly in this time of changing climate. Improved knowledge of… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Life History and Climate Change Impact to ESA-listed CoralsIn September 2014, NOAA Fisheries published a federal register notice that listed seven coral species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Understanding… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- A closer look at the Ivory Tree CoralThe ivory tree coral (Oculina varicosa) can be found in shallow and deep waters. In shallow waters, it is often patchily distributed on… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Lophelia pertusa: A Closer LookLophelia pertusa is a prominent deep-sea coral in the Gulf of Mexico and one that plays a significant role in the designation of Habitat… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Coral HAPC ExplorerThe Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is considering changes to current Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) designation based on new information… Continue Reading Recent Posts
- Spiny Lobster Closed AreasIn 2009, the National Marine Fisheries Service completed a Biological Opinion of the Spiny Lobster Fishery which concluded that spiny lobster trap fishing… Continue Reading Recent Posts
