Divers collect benthic data on St. John, USVI, reef during 2017 NCRMP mission. Credit: NOAA.

Diver surveys fish community on patch reef in Puerto Rico during 2017 NCRMP season. Credit: NOAA.

In support of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP), NCCOS helps assess the status of U.S. coral reef resources. From 2016 to 2017, NCCOS scientists conducted field surveys of coral reef fish and benthic communities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to develop data sets that are now available online (see below).

NCRMP is a multi-partner framework for conducting sustained observations of biological, climatic, and socioeconomic indicators in U.S. states and territories. The resulting data provide coral reef managers with a picture of the condition of U.S. coral reef ecosystems and the communities connected to them.

Partners on the 2016–2017 surveys include NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center, the U.S. National Park Service, Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the University of Puerto Rico, the University of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• Assessment of coral reef benthic communities in Puerto Rico from 2016-06-07 to 2017-09-01
• Assessment of coral reef fish communities in Puerto Rico from 2016-06-07 to 2017-09-01
• Assessment of coral reef benthic communities in the U.S. Virgin Islands from 2017-06-12 to 2017-08-04
• Assessment of coral reef fish communities in the U.S. Virgin Islands from 2017-06-12 to 2017-08-04

For more information, contact Kimberly.Edwards@noaa.gov.

Sites sampled around island of Puerto Rico during 2016–2017 NCRMP season. Credit: NOAA.

Sites sampled around island of St. Croix, USVI, during 2017 NCRMP season. Credit: NOAA.

Sites sampled around islands of St. John and St. Thomas, USVI, during 2017 NCRMP season. Credit: NOAA.