Coral Reef Research Centers and Reef Research Coordination Institutes

Coral Reef Research Centers and Reef Research Coordination Institutes
Coral Reef Research Centers
Institutions of higher education or nonprofit marine research organizations applied to become a Coral Reef Research Center, under the reauthorized Coral Reef Conservation Act (2022). Benefits of becoming a CRRC are:
Participation in stewardship partnerships
Eligible to apply to the Ruth D. Gates Grants Program
Eligible to compete for designation of Atlantic and/or Pacific Reef
Research Coordination Institute
In 2025, thirty-two institutions (23 in the Atlantic, 9 in the Pacific) were designated as Coral Reef Research Centers.
Atlantic CRRCs
Atlantic CRRCs (cont'd)
Pacific CRRCs
Caribbean Coral Reef Institute
Plant A Million Corals Foundation
American Samoa Community College
Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto Rico
The Nature Conservancy, Puerto Rico Program
Arizona State University Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science
Coral Restoration Foundation
The Nature Conservancy
Hawaii Marine Education Research Center
Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative
The Nature Conservancy, USVI Coral Innovation Hub
Hawaii Sea Grant
Florida Atlantic University
University of Florida Sea Grant
The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii and Palmyra
Florida Institute of Oceanography at Key Marine Laboratory
University of Florida
University of Guam Marine Laboratory
Florida Institute of Technology
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
University of Hawaii at Hilo Department of Marine Science
Florida International University
University of Puerto Rico, Department of Marine Sciences
University of Hawaii at Hilo, Multiscale Environmental Graphical Analysis (MEGA) Lab
Institute of Socio Ecological Research
University of Puerto Rico, Humacao Campus Marine Biology Program
University of Hawaii System
Mote Marine Laboratory
University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
National Coral Reef Institute at Nova Southeastern University
University of the Virgin Islands
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Reef Research Coordination Institutes
Under the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act, Reef Research
Coordination Institutes, one each in the Atlantic and Pacific basins, were
designated through open competition among 32 eligible Coral Reef Research
Centers.
Established through cooperative agreements, the Atlantic Reef Research
Coordination Institute is housed at Nova Southeastern University (Davie, FL)
and the Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute within the University
of Hawai’i System (Honolulu, HI).
Nova Southeastern University has a proven track record in coral reef
research and conservation in the region through its National Coral Reef
Institute, a center to assess, monitor, and restore coral reefs in Florida
and beyond through research and education. The Atlantic Reef Research
Coordination Institute will steward projects within the state and federal
waters of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and work
closely with relevant government agencies in those areas on conservation
and capacity needs.
The University of Hawai’i System includes the Manoa, Hilo, and West O’ahu
campuses and as the largest university in the region, it has extensive
partnerships already in place throughout the Pacific. The Pacific Reef
Research Coordination Institute will steward projects within the state and
federal waters of American Samoa, Guam, Hawai’i, and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as other opportunities in the Freely
Associated States and work closely with relevant government agencies in
those areas on conservation and capacity needs.
The Reef Research Coordination Institutes will perform the following critical functions:
conduct federally directed research to fill national and regional gaps;
collaborate with relevant states and territories, Native entities, coral reef managers, NGOs, and other Coral Reef Research Centers;
assist in the development and implementation of the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy and coral reef action plans;
build non-Federal capacity; and,
conduct public education and awareness programs.
Related Information
Reauthorized Coral Reef Conservation Act
Coral Reef Ecosystem Topics
Funding