NOAA Deep Sea Corals Research and Technology Program

Tom Hourigan

doi:10.15468/aqbftj

NOAA Deep Sea Corals Research and Technology Program

Citation

Hourigan T (2020). NOAA Deep Sea Corals Research and Technology Program. Version 1.6. United States Geological Survey. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/aqbftj accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-06-10.

Description

NOAA’s Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSC-RTP) is compiling a national geodatabase of the known locations of deep-sea corals and sponges in U.S. territorial waters and beyond. The database will be comprehensive, standardized, quality controlled, and networked to outside resources. The database schema accommodates both linear (trawls, transects) and point (samples, observations) data. The structure of the database is tailored to occurrence records of all the azooxanthellate corals, a subset of all corals, and all sponge species. Records shallower than 50 m are generally excluded in order to focus on predominantly deep-water species – the mandate of the DSC-RTP. The intention is to limit the overlap with light-dependent (and mostly shallow-water) corals. The current data reflects DSC-RTP Database Version 20230428-0. To query, visualize, and download data in its native format, please visit our map portal: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/deep-sea-corals/mapSites.htm
For advanced data query and data download, please visit our ERDDAP data access form:
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/deep_sea_corals.html To learn more about deep sea coral and sponge habitats, please visit our website: https://deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov/

Purpose

NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (Program) was established in 2007 under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act (or see Section 408). It is the nation’s only federal research program dedicated to increasing scientific understanding of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems. The Program is highly cost-effective and leverages partner expertise and resources to expand its reach and allow use of the newest technologies. These actions enhance the impact of NOAA’s deep-sea exploration and research efforts. The Program’s cutting edge and collaborative research aids resource managers in developing and evaluating management options for these valuable and vulnerable habitats on which U.S. fisheries and communities depend. The Program works with partners across the nation to support multi-year regional fieldwork initiatives and targeted projects centered on integrating new and existing information—including maintaining a national database of known coral and sponge occurrences—to maximize conservation impact while allowing sustainable fisheries to thrive. These products can be found on our data portal in the form of free downloadable data, interactive maps, images, technical reports, and other products. There are several avenues through which deep-sea corals and sponges can be recognized and protected. The United States’ eight regional fishery management councils can designate Essential Fish Habitat (and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern within Essential Fish Habitat). The councils also work to protect deep-sea corals and sponges through developing fishery management plans and exercising other authorities to minimize bycatch of these important species. NOAA and other governmental bodies may also designate national marine monuments and national marine sanctuaries. The Program provides the latest and best-available information for these management decisions.

Additional info

marine, harvest by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Deep-sea corals, sponges, and fishes that are co-observed with corals and sponges.

Cnidaria
common name: Corals rank: phylum
Porifera
common name: Sponges rank: phylum
Echinodermata
rank: phylum
Myxini
common name: Hagfish rank: class
Teleostei
rank: class
Elasmobranchii
rank: class
Holocephali
rank: class
Appendicularia
rank: class
Thaliacea
rank: class
Ascidiacea
rank: class

Geographic Coverages

Data were collected primarily from U.S. waters and oceanic regions--the Arctic, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Tom Hourigan
originator
position: Deep-Sea Coral Chief Scientist
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
email: tom.hourigan@noaa.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1936-2517

Tom Hourigan
metadata author
position: Deep-Sea Coral Chief Scientist
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
email: tom.hourigan@noaa.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1936-2517

Abby Benson
publisher
position: Biologist
U.S. Geological Survey
email: albenson@usgs.gov
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4391-107X

Stephen Formel
processor
position: Biologist
U.S. Geological Survey
email: sformel@usgs.gov
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7418-1244

Meredith Everette
administrative point of contact
position: Biologist
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Telephone: (206) 860-3404
email: meredith.everett@noaa.gov
homepage: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact/meredith-everett-phd

Robert McGuinn
administrative point of contact
position: Project Manager
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
email: robert.mcguinn@noaa.gov
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5309-247X

Heather Coleman
administrative point of contact
position: DSCRTP Program Coordinator
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
email: heather.coleman@noaa.gov
userId: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=heather-coleman-52602112