The Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), provides national leadership, strategic direction, and guidance to state and territory coastal programs and estuarine research reserves. The Office further works with state and territory coastal resource managers to develop a scientifically-based, comprehensive national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) and supports effective management and sound science to protect, sustain and restore coral reef ecosystems. These activities are mandated by the Coastal Zone Management Act, the MPA Executive Order, and the Coral Reef Conservation Act. The Office is comprised of five divisions: Coastal Programs, Estuarine Reserves, National Policy and Evaluation, MPA Center, and the Coral Program.

Mass coral bleaching events have produced wide-spread coral mortality and significant ecological, social and economic impacts to coral reefs and the communities that depend upon them. A Reef Manager’s Guide to Coral Bleaching provides information on the causes and consequences of coral bleaching, and management strategies to help local and regional reef managers reduce the threat of bleaching. Find out more about the Guide and efforts to conserve reefs.

The U.S. is developing a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to support the efficient, effective use of MPAs to conserve and sustain the nation’s marine resources.  To guide this effort, the MPA Center, and the Department of Interior have released a draft framework that provides flexible guidance for all levels of government and stakeholders to work together to increase the effectiveness of existing MPAs and improve decisions about their future use. Learn more about the framework and how to submit public comments.

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