Regional Information

Eel in a coral reef
Courtesy of USGS

Coral reefs are found in all the oceans of the world except the Arctic. Water temperatures between 68-82 degrees Fahrenheit are considered an optimal range for proper growth and health of coral reefs. In general reefs are found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Highlights

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) was established by Presidential Executive Order 13089. Our mission is to lead, coordinate, and strengthen U.S. government actions to better preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. The Task Force is co-chaired by the Departments of Commerce and of the Interior, and includes leaders of 12 federal agencies, seven U.S. states and territories, and three freely associated states. To implement the policies and requirements of the Executive Order, the Task Force has provided a forum for coordinated planning and action among federal agencies, state and territorial governments, and nongovernmental partners.

NOAA - Coral Reef Conservation Program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program supports effective management and sound science to preserve, sustain and restore valuable coral reef ecosystems.


International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
The International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), established in the year 2000, is a collaborative effort working to halt and reverse the decline in health of the world's coral reefs. Since 1994, governments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), academic institutions and the private sector have been working together through an informal global partnership called the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) to address the rapid global decline of coral reefs after they were recognised and accorded a high priority for protection in Agenda 21, at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.


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