Coral Reef Monitoring Network

Monitoring Coral Reefs in the ROPME Sea Area

The Coral Reef Monitoring Program, coordinated by the Burt Marine Biology Lab at NYU Abu Dhabi and supported through Mubadala ACCESS, leads regional and national efforts to monitor, assess, and conserve coral reef ecosystems across the ROPME Sea Area.

Our work brings together researchers and institutions to generate standardized long-term datasets that track changes in coral reef conditions, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. Through coordinated monitoring and data sharing, we support evidence-based management of one of the region’s most important ecosystems.

For more details and information, you can download the 2024 Regional Coral Reef Monitoring Program Protocol here.

Regional Coral Reef Monitoring Program

The Regional Coral Reef Monitoring Program is a collaborative initiative involving partners from across the ROPME Sea Area, including Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The program promotes standardized monitoring methods, regional capacity building, and data integration to improve understanding of coral reef status and trends throughout the region.

The program supports regional reporting and contributes data to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) and the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Assessments for Coral Reefs (RLE), helping ensure that reefs in the region are represented in global assessments of coral reef condition and climate change impacts.

UAE National Coral Reef Monitoring Program

In parallel with the regional efforts, NYUAD coordinates the UAE National Coral Reef Monitoring Program in partnership with environmental authorities across the Emirates. The program conducts standardized reef surveys in both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to assess:

Live coral cover and benthic community composition
Coral bleaching and disease
Reef fish abundance and biomass
Habitat complexity
Long-term responses to marine heatwaves and other environmental stressors

The monitoring efforts provide the first comprehensive national-scale assessment of coral reef condition across the UAE and establish critical baselines for future conservation and management actions.

Data Sharing and Collaboration

The Regional Coral Reef Monitoring Program operates under a collaborative data-sharing framework that recognizes and protects the contributions of all partners. Contributors retain ownership of their data through formal Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs), while enabling the integration of datasets needed for regional assessments and international reporting.

The program actively promotes capacity building, training, and knowledge exchange among researchers and environmental managers across the region.

Workshops and Capacity Building

The Coral Reef Monitoring Network regularly convenes regional workshops that bring together scientists, environmental practitioners, and government agencies from across the ROPME Sea Area. These meetings foster the exchange of knowledge and experience while helping harmonize monitoring methods, improve data quality, and strengthen regional collaboration.

Since 2023, the network has organized two regional workshops, bringing together representatives from seven countries. In addition, the network has delivered targeted national training programs in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar, supporting local monitoring initiatives while further strengthening regional capacity.

If you are interested in participating in or learning more about our regional program, don’t hesitate to contact Rita Bento at: rcc8949@nyu.edu