df8e3fb8-3da7-4104-a866-748f6da20a3c https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/deep-sea-corals-portal/ https://obis.org/dataset/f5a4799e-dc24-4807-89d9-01da47d52e3b https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0145037 https://ipt-obis.gbif.us/resource?r=noaa_dsc_rtp DSCRTP Tom Hourigan National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Deep-Sea Coral Chief Scientist (retired) tom.hourigan@noaa.gov 0000-0002-1936-2517 Tom Hourigan National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Deep-Sea Coral Chief Scientist (Retired) tom.hourigan@noaa.gov 0000-0002-1936-2517 Abby Benson U.S. Geological Survey Biologist albenson@usgs.gov 0000-0002-4391-107X publisher Stephen Formel U.S. Geological Survey Biologist sformel@usgs.gov 0000-0001-7418-1244 processor 2026-02-07 eng NOAA’s Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSC-RTP) has compiled a national database of the known locations of deep-sea corals and sponges in U.S. territorial waters and beyond. The database is comprehensive, standardized, quality controlled, and networked to outside resources. The database schema accommodates both linear (trawls, transects) and point (samples, observations) data. The structure of the database is tailored to occurrence records of all the azooxanthellate corals, a subset of all corals, and all sponge species. Fish records are also included when annotated along with coral and sponge occurrences. Records shallower than 50 m are generally excluded in order to focus on predominantly deep-water species – the mandate of the DSC-RTP. The intention is to limit the overlap with light-dependent (and mostly shallow-water) corals. Query, visualize, and download data in its native format by visiting our map and data portal: Deep-Sea Corals Map Portal. For advanced data query and data download, please visit our ERDDAP data access form: ERDDAP Data Access Form. To learn more about NOAA's National Database for Deep-Sea Corals and Sponges, visit our website: NOAA Deep-Sea Coral Data. Occurrence GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type.xml Observation GBIF Dataset Subtype Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_subtype.xml Occurrence GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type_2015-07-10.xml marine, harvest by iOBIS To the extent possible under law, the publisher has waived all rights to these data and has dedicated them to the Public Domain (CC0 1.0). Users may copy, modify, distribute and use the work, including for commercial purposes, without restriction. Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal https://spdx.org/licenses/CC0-1.0.html CC0-1.0 https://deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov/data https://ipt-obis.gbif.us/archive.do?r=noaa_dsc_rtp Data were collected primarily from U.S. waters and oceanic regions--the Arctic, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. International records are included, but are more sparse than U.S. based occurrences -179.995 179.999 74.35 -78.9167 1842-08-11 2024-11-20 Deep-sea corals, sponges, and fishes. kingdom Animalia NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (Program) was established in 2007 under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act (or see Section 408). It is the nation’s only federal research program dedicated to increasing scientific understanding of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems. The Program is highly cost-effective and leverages partner expertise and resources to expand its reach and allow use of the newest technologies. These actions enhance the impact of NOAA’s deep-sea exploration and research efforts. The Program’s cutting edge and collaborative research aids resource managers in developing and evaluating management options for these valuable and vulnerable habitats on which U.S. fisheries and communities depend. The Program works with partners across the nation to support multi-year regional fieldwork initiatives and targeted projects centered on integrating new and existing information—including maintaining a national database of known coral and sponge occurrences—to maximize conservation impact while allowing sustainable fisheries to thrive. These products can be found on our data portal in the form of free downloadable data, interactive maps, images, technical reports, and other products. There are several avenues through which deep-sea corals and sponges can be recognized and protected. The United States’ eight regional fishery management councils can designate Essential Fish Habitat (and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern within Essential Fish Habitat). The councils also work to protect deep-sea corals and sponges through developing fishery management plans and exercising other authorities to minimize bycatch of these important species. NOAA and other governmental bodies may also designate national marine monuments and national marine sanctuaries. The Program provides the latest and best-available information for these management decisions. U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Centers for Environmental Information and The Northern Gulf Institute.   The program is running on a quarterly update cycles. Updates can include new records and quality improvements to existing occurrence records. continually Adrienne Copeland National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration DSCRTP Program Manager 202-603-6844 adrienne.copeland@noaa.gov https://deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov/about/staff_profiles Robert McGuinn Northern Gulf Institute (a NOAA Cooperative Institute) DSCRTP Data Systems Project Lead robert.mcguinn@noaa.gov 0000-0001-5309-247X http://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-NOS-NCCOS-191 The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program is tasked with identifying and mapping the locations of deep-sea corals. To meet this mandate, the Program has built a national geographic database that houses spatial records of deep-sea corals and sponges derived from the research funded by the Program, results of other NOAA programs that study the deep sea, and data voluntarily contributed by other federal agencies, research institutions and international organizations. http://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-NOS-NCCOS-191 http://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-NOS-NCCOS-191 Tom Hourigan 0000-0002-1936-2517 curator The Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program is administered by the Office of Habitat Conservation within NOAA Fisheries. It is the nation’s only federal research program dedicated to increasing scientific understanding of deep-sea coral ecosystems. This work informs critical management decisions about these habitats and the ecosystems they support in every region of the United States and its territories. NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service - Deep-sea Coral Research and Technology Program. NOAA, National Centers for Environmental Information NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (Program) was established in 2007 under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act (or see Section 408). It is the nation’s only federal research program dedicated to increasing scientific understanding of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems. The Program is highly cost-effective and leverages partner expertise and resources to expand its reach, and allow use of the newest technologies. These actions enhance the impact of NOAA’s deep-sea exploration and research efforts. The Program’s cutting edge and collaborative research aids resource managers in developing and evaluating management options for these valuable and vulnerable habitats on which U.S. fisheries and communities depend. The Program works with partners across the nation to support multi-year regional fieldwork initiatives and targeted projects centered on integrating new and existing information—including maintaining a national database of known coral and sponge occurrences—to maximize conservation impact while allowing sustainable fisheries to thrive. These products can be found on our data portal in the form of free downloadable data, interactive maps, images, technical reports, and other products. There are several avenues through which deep-sea corals and sponges can be recognized and protected. The United States’ eight regional fishery management councils can designate Essential Fish Habitat (and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern within Essential Fish Habitat). The councils also work to protect deep-sea corals and sponges through developing fishery management plans and exercising other authorities to minimize bycatch of these important species. NOAA and other governmental bodies may also designate national marine monuments and national marine sanctuaries. The Program provides the latest and best-available information for these management decisions. 2016-06-02T15:46:09.519+00:00 dataset National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP), 2026. Observations of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Occurrences from NOAA's National Database for Deep-sea Corals and Sponges, 1842-Present, version 20260121-0. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Archived data: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0145037. Access portal: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/deep-sea-corals-portal/. Accessed [date as YYYY-MM-DD]. Note: Character strings in [brackets] should be overwritten with appropriate values and leave out the brackets. Note: Database version can be found in the ‘DatabaseVersion’ variable in the database. Hourigan, T. F., P. J. Etnoyer, R. P. McGuinn, C. Whitmire, D.S. Dorfman, M. Dornback, S. Cross, D. Sallis. 2015. An Introduction to NOAA’s National Database for Deep-Sea Corals and Sponges. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 191. 27 pp. Silver Spring, MD. McGuinn, RP, TF Hourigan, SL Cross, LM Dornback, PJ Etnoyer, DE Sallis, and HM Coleman. 2020. NOAA’s National Database for Deep-Sea Corals and Sponges: 2020 Status Update. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-OHC-007. 56 p. Hosted Feature Service, NOAA GeoPlatform UTF-8 ESRI Feature Service https://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=aabf6845f3ed47eca8a5a1d538aec7c5 CSV of Entire Database UTF-8 CSV file https://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=f465861aecac410980a7c601cfec7850 Official NOAA Archive Page UTF-8 comma delimited text https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0145037 df8e3fb8-3da7-4104-a866-748f6da20a3c/v1.35.xml