Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 2018 Report to Congress About This Report
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Informational Report 3 (Electronic Only) March 2019 Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 2018 Report to Congress About This Report The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program was established under the authority of Section 408 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), as reauthorized in 2007. This MSA-required a biennial report to Congress and the public summarizing the steps taken by NOAA to identify, monitor, and protect deep-sea coral areas, including the Program’s research activities and results. The Program consults with the nation’s eight regional fshery management councils and collaborates on research with other federal agencies, international partners, and non- governmental and academic scientists. The Program collaborates with other NOAA programs and offces, such as National Marine Sanctuaries, Ocean Exploration and Research, Fisheries Science Centers and Regional Offces, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, and National Centers for Environmental Information. These programs and offces support exploration, research, analysis, and management activities critical to understanding and managing deep-sea corals and other ocean resources. The Program actively works to leverage their expertise. This report describes the 2016 and 2017 research activities partially or fully funded by the Program to meet NOAA’s mandate to identify, study, and monitor deep-sea coral areas. The report is supplemented with details of these activities: https://deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov/. The report also briefy describes progress during this period in MSA and other NOAA management actions that contribute to protecting deep-sea coral areas. A subset of deep-sea coral research activities funded and executed by NOAA programs and offces other than the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program is briefy discussed, as these activities are providing data that will be analyzed by our Program. Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere / Deputy NOAA Administrator, Acting Under Secretar y of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere / NOAA Administrator Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program National Marine Fisheries Service COVER PHOTO: Thorny tinselfsh swimming above dense Lophelia pertusa coral mounds discovered at 500 m (1,600 ft) depth on the West Florida Slope. Image: NOAA, Pelagic Research Services. Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 2018 Report to Congress Developed pursuant to Section 408 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as Amended by Public Law 109-479 Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 2 About Deep-Sea Corals .................................................................................................................................... 4 MSA Section 408: Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program ......................................................... 5 Discovering Deep-Sea Treasures of U.S. Pacifc Island Marine National Monuments ..................................6 Southeast Deep Coral Initiative: Exploring Ecosystems off the Southeast United States ...........................12 West Coast Prepares for Upcoming Deep-Sea Coral Initiative ..................................................................... 16 Alaska: The Role of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Communities as Habitat for Marine Fishes ...................24 Northeast: Data to Inform Deep-Sea Coral Management ............................................................................. 28 State of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems of the United States Report ...........................................32 Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program Review ........................................................................ 34 World-class Deep-Sea Coral Database Advances ......................................................................................... 36 Deep-Sea Coral Predictive Habitat Modeling ................................................................................................ 38 Education and Engagement ........................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix 1: Budget Information .................................................................................................................... 40 Appendix 2: Maps of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Location by Region .......................................................42 Appendix 3: Maps of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Protections and Areas with Potential for Fishing Gear Interaction ................................................................................................... 49 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 58 Executive Summary The deep sea is one of the last frontiers of enhancing our understanding of deep-sea marine research. Reaching extreme ocean coral distribution, function, and vulnerability depths requires committed scientists, to human activities. In 2016 and 2017, the innovative techniques, dedicated funding, and Program supported robust research to inform diverse partnerships. The National Oceanic management decisions and improve public and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Deep understanding of the deep sea. Materials Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, referred to in this document are available at administered by the Offce of Habitat https://deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov/ or Conservation within NOAA Fisheries, meets https://www.fsheries.noaa.gov/national/ these charges by working directly with resource habitat-conservation/deep-sea-coral-habitat. managers to identify survey and research priorities for deep-sea coral communities. The • ThePacific Islands Deep-Sea Coral Fieldwork Program then works with partners to survey Initiative (2015-2017) partnered with NOAA’s and fund cutting-edge research to understand Office of Ocean Exploration and Research coral survival, growth, reproduction, genetic to explore areas of our ocean never before connections, and recovery from damage. As seen by humans. Researchers described such, scientists are characterizing habitat hundreds of new species during 187 remotely created by deep-sea corals for commercially operated vehicle (ROV) dives comprising one valuable fsh and invertebrates on every of the largest ocean exploration efforts in U.S. expedition. In each region of the country, our history. Livestream ROV video feeds logged work guides crucial protection for these animals more than 16 million views, engaging to sustain the highly biodiverse and productive audiences around the world in exciting habitats the nation depends on. discoveries. With an investment of about $2.5 million per • SoutheastDeep Coral Initiative (2016-2019) year and through extensive partnerships and researchers and partners have explored leveraging of funds, the Program is measurably canyon and slope habitats of interest to regional fishery management councils, and turned observations into predictions of productive deep-sea coral habitat in unexplored waters. Directly informed by Program research and broadly supported by the public, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council unanimously approved 21 new Habitat Areas of Particular Concern containing deep-sea corals in June 2018. Empty egg case of a skate, ray, or shark attached to the octocoral Swiftia koreni. Image: NOAA Offce of Ocean Exploration and Research. 2 Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program 2018 Report to Congress •A new deep-sea coral research initiative is opportunities—are the result of multiple partners beginning in the West Coast region (2018- pooling resources for a shared mission. Critical 2020). The Program has gathered priorities collaborators include NOAA’s National Centers based on April 2018 essential fsh habitat for Coastal Ocean Science, Offce of Ocean closures and reopenings designated by the Exploration and Research, Offce of National Pacifc Fishery Management Council. Many Marine Sanctuaries, the U.S. Geological Survey, aspects of these updates were informed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, past Program research on locations, impacts academic scientists, and non-governmental of fshing gear, and fsh-habitat associations organizations. with deep-sea coral. We are only beginning to understand where and • Research with partners and data analysis how deep-sea corals grow and thrive. Further has continued in the Alaska and Northeast studies will improve our understanding of how regions, which are currently between research these valuable and vulnerable communities initiatives. The Program is working with the contribute to robust fsheries and resilient North Pacifc Fishery Management Council to ecosystems. In the coming years, the Program identify priorities for future research, and the will continue to prioritize research that supports New England Fishery Management Council regional fshery management councils, national voted in January 2018 to protect its entire marine sanctuaries, and other resource managers exclusive economic zone deeper than 600 as they develop management measures for