NOAA Plans Update to Coral Reef Protection Blueprint
Published Date: 5/19/2026
Notice
Summary
NOAA is updating its plan to protect coral reefs in places like Florida, Hawai'i, and the Caribbean. They want to add new ways to save and restore reefs and are asking the public to share their thoughts by June 18, 2026. This update could change how money and efforts are spent to keep coral reefs healthy and thriving.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Expanded whole-colony coral collection
NOAA will analyze expanding coral collection to include collecting whole coral colonies for use in research, coral nursery broodstock and restoration, rescue during disease outbreaks and thermal events, and preservation in gene banks.
More support for land-based coral nurseries
The supplemental PEIS will analyze expanding coral nursery activities to include more support for ex-situ/land-based coral nurseries, including expansion, maintenance, and herbivore co-culturing.
Bigger restoration sites and new techniques
NOAA will analyze expanding coral restoration to larger areas about the size of two basketball courts (approximately 1,000 m2 or 3,280 ft2), using selectively bred or preconditioned corals, and adding site preparation techniques such as stabilizing loose coral and installing three-dimensional structures for outplant survival.
Mangrove nursery and watershed restoration added
The supplemental PEIS will analyze expanded watershed restoration activities to include in-situ mangrove nursery operations and mangrove restoration.
Program alternatives could reduce or expand work
The PEIS will analyze four program-level alternatives, including Alternative One which would eliminate in-water restoration activities and actions that reduce physical impacts to reefs (for example, marine debris removal and installation of buoys), and Alternative Three which is NOAA's preferred alternative that adds the new actions and expanded methods described above.
Public scoping and comment deadline
NOAA opened a public scoping period starting May 19, 2026 and is accepting written comments through June 18, 2026 about the supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. Federal, state, and local agencies and other interested persons are invited to submit comments by the June 18, 2026 deadline.
New ecosystem intervention methods
The PEIS will analyze expanded ecosystem intervention activities such as propagation and release of additional herbivores (for example, fish and snails) to control algae, methods to manage unwanted invasive or nuisance species (for example, soft corals), and activities to increase coral larval settlement (for example, playing natural sounds on reefs).
Temporary coral emergency response actions
NOAA will analyze expanded actions to address temporary shifts in ocean conditions, including temporary evacuation of corals to ex-situ facilities, moving coral nurseries to deeper, cooler waters, shading priority corals, and in-situ coral feeding.
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