NOAA NCCOS Assessment: Priority Areas Recommended for Shallow Coral Reef Management in the South Florida Coast from 2021-04-26 to 2021-05-21

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) developed a spatial framework, process, and online application (Buja and Christensen 2019) to identify mapping needs along the south Florida coast to support shallow coral reef management by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). Eighteen participants from local federal, state, academic, and other institutions entered their priorities in an online participatory Geographic Information System (pGIS). Participants used virtual coins to denote their priorities in 10.4 km2 hexagonal grid cells overlaid on the study area. Grid cells with more coins were higher priorities than cells with fewer coins. Participants also reported why these locations were important, what data types were needed, and data collection methodologies using a pre-set list of options. Results were compiled, summarized, and mapped to identify high priority areas, reasons for those priorities, and information needs. Identifying these high priority areas provide a critical spatial framework for prioritizing mapping efforts in shallow coral reef ecosystems in south Florida.