http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/corals/deepseacorals/fy12/DSCRtCFinal.pdf

This report highlights the exciting discovery of deep-sea coral habitats as well as progress made in our nationwide research.

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Featured in the report is an overview of the program’s first three-year field study, focused on the Southeast U.S., which revealed new and currently unprotected deep-sea coral communities off the eastern and southern coasts of Florida. These fragile habitats are home to a wide variety of species, many of which are commercially important. NOAA’s deep-water coral investigations have been instrumental in providing data and documentation on the distribution and ecological significance of these resources.

In addition to the discoveries off the southeastern U.S., scientists are exploring deep-sea coral and sponge habitats off the West Coast, documenting their importance for fish, and providing key information to fishery and National Marine Sanctuary managers.

The report is complemented by descriptions all the program’s activities on our website: http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/deepseacorals

NOAA’s *Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program *provides scientific information needed to conserve and manage deep-sea coral habitats. We are committed to increasing the scientific understanding of these rich and valuable communities and making it available to ocean resource managers to inform conservation actions. The Program’s work is made possible through partnerships with other federal agencies, academic scientists and non-governmental organizations. I thank the many of you who have participated in making this a successful Program.

Tom Hourigan

Chief Scientist, Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program
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