Source: Reef Relief Founders
February 28, 2012

"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."

To read the full text of the article and the report, click here.