NOAA NCCOS Assessment: Agency priorities for mapping coral reef ecosystems in Hawaii, 2022-07-08 to 2022-08-01

NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) has identified a need for priority locations based on emerging management requirements in shallow coral reef areas (up to 40 meters) surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands. The priorities provided by participating agencies will inform research and monitoring activities, address current and future management needs, and maximize opportunities to leverage and complement existing regional efforts.

To meet this need, NOAAs National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) developed a systematic, quantitative approach and online GIS application to gather seafloor mapping priorities from researchers and coral reef managers. Participants placed virtual coins into a grid overlaid on the project area to express the location of their mapping priorities. They also used pull-down menus to indicate specific mapping data needs and the rationale for their selections. Participants inputs were compiled and analyzed to identify high priority areas along with their justifications and requirements. A total of 17 participant groups entered their mapping priorities into the online tool. Identifying these high priority areas provide a critical spatial framework for prioritizing mapping efforts in shallow coral reef ecosystems in Hawaii.