Spatial information about the seafloor is critical for decision-making by marine resource science, management and tribal organizations. Coordinating data needs can help organizations leverage collective resources to meet shared goals. To help enable this coordination, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) developed a spatial framework, process and online application to identify common data collection priorities for seafloor mapping, sampling and visual surveys off the US Caribbean territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Fifteen participants from local federal, state, and academic institutions entered their priorities in an online application, using virtual coins to denote their priorities in 2.5x2.5 kilometer (nearshore) and 10x10 kilometer (offshore) grid size. Grid cells with more coins were higher priorities than cells with fewer coins. Participants also reported why these locations were important and what data types were needed. Results were analyzed and mapped using statistical techniques to identify significant relationships between priorities, reasons for those priorities and data needs. Fifteen high priority locations were broadly identified for future mapping, sampling and visual surveys. These locations include: (1) a coastal location in northwest Puerto Rico (Punta Jacinto to Punta Agujereada), (2) a location approximately 11 km off Punta Agujereada, (3) coastal Rincon, (4) San Juan, (5) Punta Arenas (west of Vieques Island), (6) southwest Vieques, (7) Grappler Seamount, (8) southern Virgin Passage, (9) north St. Thomas, (10) east St. Thomas, (11) south St. John, (12) west offshore St. Croix, (13) west nearshore St. Croix, (14) east nearshore St. Croix, and (15) east offshore St. Croix. Participants consistently selected (1) Biota/Important Natural Area, (2) Commercial Fishing and (3) Coastal/Marine Hazards as their top reasons (i.e., justifications) for prioritizing locations, and (1) Benthic Habitat Map and (2) Sub-bottom Profiles as their top data or product needs. This ESRI shapefile summarizes the results from this spatial prioritization effort. This information will enable US Caribbean organization to more efficiently leverage resources and coordinate their mapping of high priority locations in the region.

To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, reef fish assessment surveys are conducted as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) cruises in the Main Hawaiian Islands region by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). REA is a useful method for gathering data pertaining to ecologically significant biological components of a reef habitat over small spatial scales. Because the method provides a quick "snapshot" of major reef biota during a single dive or snorkel survey, it is particularly useful in assessing remote areas that are only rarely visited and where little time can be spent. Surveys are conducted along a set of transect lines. With their high level of taxonomic resolution over small spatial scales, REAs are a good complement to towed diver surveys, which are conducted over larger spatial scales but with a lower level of taxonomic resolution. For more information, please see: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/ecosystem-sciences-division-standard-operating-procedures-data-collection-rapid

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of South China Sea, Western Pacific Ocean. The time period coverage is from -37 to -63 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Kiribati, Central Pacific Ocean. The time period coverage is from 12 to -43 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Nauru, Micronesia. The time period coverage is from 3 to -45 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

Climate change threatens even the best-protected and most remote reefs. Reef recovery following catastrophic disturbance usually requires disturbed sites be reseeded from upstream reefs. Recent research (McClanahan et al., 2012) assessed connectivity as an important resilience factor, which although difficult to measure, is a high priority for management of coral reef ecosystems. The products described herein identify reefs that act as “sources” and/or “sinks” in the Hawaiian Archipelago (and Johnston Atoll) to inform reef management strategies. Tools developed provide information on connectivity among reefs, thereby advancing the capacity for reef connectivity assessment.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Fiji, Polynesia. The time period coverage is from 174 to -51 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of . The time period coverage is from -2 to -70 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of Cook Islands, Polynesia. The time period coverage is from 224 to -50 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.

This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Coral. The data include parameters of corals and sclerosponges with a geographic location of French Polynesia, Polynesia. The time period coverage is from 98 to -40 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.