Pacific Islands Deep-sea Coral and Sponge 3-year Research Wrap-up Workshop May 23–24, 2018

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP) was established under Section 408 of the 2006 Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act ( MSRA, Public Law 109-479).

In May 2014, scientists and resource managers representing stakeholders from government, academia, and conservation groups met in Honolulu, Hawaii, to identify critical information needs for deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems, and to develop a 3-year exploration and research priorities plan for the Pacific Islands Region.

From 2015 through 2017, the DSCRTP allocated resources to be used by the NOAA Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) and partners to begin implementing priority research efforts.

The PIFSC and DSCRTP sponsored a follow-up workshop in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi on May 23–24, 2018, after the 3-year program ended, to review its accomplishments and suggest improvements for future work.

The objectives of this 2018 workshop were to

1) review major outcomes of the 3-y ear Pacific Islands Research Initiative that are completed and still in progress

2) identify how the exploration and research results support improved scientific understanding of deep-water biogenic habitats in the Pacific Islands and current or future management information needs, particularly those of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) and the Pacific Islands Marine National Monuments

3) identify remaining research needs in the U.S. Pacific Islands region and make recommendations for future Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program’s partnerships and fieldwork.

Parke M. 2018. Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program: Pacific Islands deep-sea coral and sponge 3-year research wrap-up workshop May 23-24, 2018. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-78, 36 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/wect-ry70.