Coral reefs are the most diverse habitats on the planet and serve as homes for fish, crabs, seahorses, sea turtles, and more. They provide coastal protection for communities and millions of dollars in recreation and tourism. There are both shallow coral reef habitats and deep-sea coral habitats.
Despite their great economic and recreational value, corals are severely threatened by rapidly worsening environmental conditions (such as ocean acidification and rising water temperature).They are also threatened by human activity, such as pollution, oil and chemical spills, ship groundings, and marine debris. Corals are slow growing. When corals are harmed, it can take many decades—even centuries—for them to recover.
The best way to conserve coral reefs and reduce future habitat loss is to know everything we can about them. Explore the features below to learn about the many coral species, coral reef habitats, and the work NOAA Fisheries does to research and protect this diverse group of animals.
Coral Features
Meet Your Pacific Islands Protected Coral Species
Five of the 15 Indo-Pacific corals listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act occur in U.S. waters. Get to know them!
Meet the Pacific Islands protected coral species
Podcast: Restoring Florida's Iconic Coral Reefs
Mission: Iconic Reefs is an effort to protect and restore seven key reef sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Listen to a podcast about coral reef restoration in Florida
Millionth Spiny Superhero Released to Devour Hawaiʻi's Coral-smothering Algae
One million sea urchins have now been deployed through NOAA and the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources’ work restoring corals after the M/V Cape Flattery grounded on an Oʻahu reef.
Sea urchins help to restore struggling corals
$1 Million Available for Coral Restoration Projects in Honor of Coral Researcher Dr. Ruth D. Gates
As part of our efforts to restore resilient coral ecosystems, NOAA is announcing the availability of funding for coral restoration in 2024.
Find out more about Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grant funding
New Hope for Puerto Rico’s Coral Reefs
With $10.6 million in new funding through NOAA, our long-time Puerto Rico partner Institute for Socio-Ecological Research is poised to restore coral reefs on a massive scale.
Learn more about this collaboration for coral restoration
Local Talent and Indigenous Knowledge Key to Restoring Hawaiʻi Coral Reefs
Threats to coral are increasing and the involvement of the local community is imperative. With funding through NOAA’s underserved community grants, Kuleana Coral Restoration graduated their first cohort of local and Native Hawaiian ocean conservationists.
Read more about Kuleana Coral Restoration
StoryMap: Explore Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico
Learn about expeditions informing restoration of habitats injured in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Restoring Coral Reefs
Coral reefs provide coastal protection for communities, habitat for fish, and millions of dollars in recreation and tourism, among other benefits. But corals are also severely threatened by rapidly worsening environmental conditions. Learn how NOAA works to restore these valuable habitats.
Learn about NOAA's coral reef restoration work
Deep-Sea Pioneers Take Root in the Gulf of Mexico
The first seafloor trials are under way to restore coral communities impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Learn more about the outplanting efforts
West Coast Wraps Up Exciting 4-Year Deep-Sea Coral Initiative
The effort has greatly improved our understanding of deep-sea corals and sponges off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington, particularly within national marine sanctuaries.
Read more about the research initiative
A Growing Facility to Leverage Coral Science
Advancing coral research, spawning efforts, and restoration science in an expanded experimental wet lab facility.
Learn more about the Coral Research and Assessment Lab team and their wet lab facility
Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Restoration
Vital seafloor habitats were damaged by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. NOAA and partners are building a network of experts and resources to restore this underexplored area in the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat restoration in the mesophotic zone and deep-sea communities
How Are Fisheries and Coral Reefs Connected?
Learn how overfishing impacts corals and what you can do to protect these important ecosystems.
More on the connected between fisheries and coral reefs
Science Blog: Innovation to Learn About Deep-Sea Coral Communities in the Gulf of Alaska
We are using new technologies and methods to learn more about deep-sea coral communities in the Gulf of Alaska.
View more from this science blog series
