U.S. Coral Reef Task Force

USCRTF PR 2015

44th and Earlier Meetings

Past USCRTF Meetings

  • 44th Meeting
  • 43rd Meeting
  • 42nd Meeting
  • 41st Meeting
  • 40th Meeting
  • Archive

44th Meeting, Virtual, November 2021

The 44th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting was held virtually.

The agenda for the Principals Virtual Meeting, which was held on November 18th, can be accessed here.

Presentation List

  • Decision Item: Framework for Action FY22-26
  • U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee Chair’s Report – Jean-Pierre Oriol, USVI Commissioner of Planning & Natural Resources, AIC Chair
  • USCRTF Steering Committee and Framework for Action Update – Jennifer Koss, NOAA and Liza Johnson, DOI
  • Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease: Update from the National Coordinator and Working Group Initiatives – Caroline McLaughlin, Florida Sea Grant
  • Vessel Incidental Discharge Act update – Jack Faulk, EPA
  • Restoring Resilient Reefs Act to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act – Joanna Walczak, Florida DEP/Coral Protection and Restoration Program
  • Global Coral Reef Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CoRDAP) – Jennifer Koss, NOAA
  • International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) update – Jennifer Koss, NOAA

43rd Meeting, Virtual, October 2020

The 43rd U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting was held virtually.

The agenda for the Principals Virtual Meeting, which was held on October 15th, can be accessed here.

Presentation List

  • Principals’ Updates
  • U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee Chair’s Report – Jean-Pierre Oriol, USVI Commissioner of Planning & Natural Resources, AIC Chair
  • USCRTF Steering Committee and Framework for Action Update – Jennifer Koss, NOAA CRCP and Liza Johnson, DOI Insular and International Affairs
  • Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Update, NOAA SCTLD Prevention and Response Strategy – RDML Tim Gallaudet and Dr. Alexandra Skrivanek (NOAA)
  • Jurisdictional Updates
  • Florida – Maurizio Martinelli (FL Disease Response Coordinator)
  • Puerto Rico – Melissa González (PR Disease Response Coordinator)
  • USVI – Joe Townsend (USVI Disease Response Coordinator)
  • Ballast Water Updates – Nick Rosenau (EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds)

42nd Meeting, Koror, Palau, September 2019

The 42nd U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting was held in Koror, Palau from September 9-13, 2019.

The agenda for the public Business Meeting, which was held on September 12th, in Koror, Palau can be accessed here.

The Week-at-a-Glance Agenda can be accessed here.

Presentation List

  • U.S. All Islands Committee Chair’s Report – Joanna Walczak, Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Yimnag Golbuu, Palau International Coral Reef Center
  • U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Steering Committee Update – Liza Johnson, DOI; Jennifer Koss, NOAA
  • Understanding Our Coral Reefs: USGS Science Today and Tomorrow – Jim Reilly, USGS
  • Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in Florida and the Caribbean: An Update for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force – Dana Wusinich-Mendez, NOAA
  • Coral Bleaching Report – Mark Eakin, NOAA
  • NOAA Response to National Academy of Science Resilient Coral Interventions Study – Jennifer Koss, NOAA
  • Protected Areas as a Strategy to Protect Biodiversity and Improve Livelihoods: Palau’s Protected Areas Network and National Marine Sanctuary – F. Umiich Sengebau, Palau Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment & Tourism; and Elbuchel Sadang Palau Ministry of Finance
  • An Innovative Commitment for Conservation – Geraldine Datuin, Micronesia Challenge
  • Micronesian Coral Reef Fisheries – Peter Houk, University of Guam
  • Coastal Fisheries and Management, Marshall Islands – Glen Joseph, Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority
  • Enhancing State Capacity to Improve Planning – Mary Frances Remengesau, Governor of Ngaremlengui State, Palau
  • Enhancing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Capabilities in the Republic of Palau – Peter Peshut, Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board
  • The Role of NGOs in Supporting Sustainable Land Management – Bola Majekobaje, Palau Conservation Society
  • Palau Community College Environmental/Marine Science Program- Vernice Yuji, Palau Community College
  • Outdoor Classroom Camp Ebiil Skill Building – Ann Singeo, Ebiil Society
  • Science Curriculum Palau Ministry of Education – Sinton Soalablai, Palau Ministry of Education

Public Comment

Invitation to 2020 University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability, About the UOG Sea Grant Program, and Recognition of CRCP, USDA and USEPA Support for the Talakhaya Watershed, CNMI – Fran Castro, University of Guam Sea GrantAdd your content here…

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Presentation – Wendy Wood-Derrer, Nova Southeastern University

41st Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 2019

The 41st U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting was held in Washington D.C. from April 1-4, 2019 in Silver Spring, MD and Washington, DC.

The agenda for the public Business Meeting which was held on April 4th at the Department of the Interior, can be accessed here.

The Week-at-a-Glance Agenda can be accessed here.

Presentation List

  • U.S. All Islands Committee Chair’s Report
  • U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Steering Committee Update
  • Building the Allen Coral Atlas – Helen Fox, National Geographic Society
  • Coral Reef Benefits to Hawaii – Brian Neilson, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
  • Coral Reef Watch Bleaching Update – Mark Eakin, NOAA Coral Reef Watch
  • Highlights from the December Reef Futures Symposium – Tali Vardi, NOAA
  • International Coral Reef Initiative Update – Christine Dawson, DOS
  • Lessons Learned from Hurricanes Irma and Maria: FEMA NCR RSF – Ernesto Diaz, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
  • Management Response to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease – Maurizio Martinelli, Florida Sea Grant
  • Manager’s Guide to Coral Reef Restoration Planning & Design – Liz Shaver, The Nature Conservancy
  • National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Interventions to Increase the Resilience of Coral Reefs – Bob Richmond, University of Hawaii Manoa
  • Next-Generation Sensing Technologies for Exploring Ocean Worlds – Juan Torres-Perez, NASA
  • NOAA Support to FEMA: Recap and Lessons Learned – Jennifer Moore, NOAA
  • Protecting Coral Reefs for Enhanced Coastal Resilience – Mark Way, The Nature Conservancy
  • Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Spreads to the Wider Caribbean and Beyond? – Leslie Henderson, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources
  • XPRIZE for Coral Restoration Launch – Jennifer Koss, NOAA

Public Comment

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Presentation – Wendy Wood-Derrer, Nova Southeastern University

40th Meeting, American Samoa, August 2018

The 40th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting was held in Pago Pago, American Samoa from August 13th to the 16th.

The agenda for the public Business Meeting on August 16th can be accessed here.

Presentation List

  • U.S. All Islands Committee Chair’s Report
  • U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Steering Committee Update
  • American Samoa Coral Reefs Through Time, Dr. Charles Birkeland, Professor Emeritus at University of Hawaii
  • NOAA Protected Resources Coral ID Program and State of American Samoa’s Reefs, Dr. Doug Fenner, Consultant for Coral Reef Consulting
  • Report out from the Disaster Response Workshop, Va�amua Henry Sesepasara, Director American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
  • Restoration Success and Needs (including Green Infrastructure) Georgia Coward, Benthic Ecologist American Samoa Coral Reef Advisory Group
  • Territorial Marine Science Center Motusaga Vaeso, NOAA Coral Reef Management Fellow, American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources

Meeting Archive

Please contact coralreefweb@noaa.gov if you are looking for additional information about past meetings.

39th Meeting, February 2018
Washington, DC

38th Meeting, August 2017
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

37th Meeting, February 2017
Washington, DC

36th Meeting, September 2016
Marianas

35th Meeting, February 2016
Washington, DC

34th Meeting, October 2015
Fajardo, Puerto Rico

33rd Meeting, February 2015
Washington, DC

32nd Meeting, September 2014
Maui, Hawai’i

31st Meeting, February 2014
Washington, DC

30th Meeting, November 2013
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

29th Meeting, February 2013
Washington, DC

28th Meeting, August 2012
Pago Pago, American Samoa

27th Meeting, February 2012
Washington, DC

26th Meeting, Fall 2011
Florida

25th Meeting, February 2011
Washington, DC

24th Meeting, September 2010
Saipan, CNMI

23rd Meeting, February 2010
Washington, DC

22nd Meeting, October – November 2009
San Juan, Puerto Rico

21st Meeting, February 2009
Washington DC

20th Meeting, August 2008
Kona, Hawai’i

19th Meeting, February 2008
Washington, DC

18th Meeting, August 2007
American Samoa

17th Meeting, February – March 2007
Washington DC

16th Meeting, October 2006
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

15th Meeting, May 2006
Washington D.C.

14th Meeting, November 2005
Koror, Republic of Palau

13th Meeting, March 2005
Washington, DC

12th Meeting, December 2004
Miami, Florida

11th Meeting, February 2004
Washington, DC

10th Meeting, October 2003
Guam & Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

9th Meeting, February 2003
Washington, D.C.

8th Meeting, October 2002
San Juan, Puerto Rico

7th Meeting, December 2001
Washington, DC

6th Meeting, February 2001
Washington, DC

5th Meeting, August 2000
Pago Pago, American Samoa

4th Meeting, March 2000
Washington, DC

3rd Meeting, November 1999
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

2nd Meeting, March 1999
Maui, Hawaii

1st Meeting, October 1998
Biscayne National Park, Florida