2019 Gulf of Mexico Coral Reef Preliminary Report Card

Abstract

The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world. Its coral reefs are biological diverse habitats, of high cultural and economic significance. This report card was developed during a workshop held in Merida, Yucatan in November, 2019. It outlines potential indicators of coral reef ecosystem health, perceived conditions of the reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, and next steps for developing a quantitative assessment of Gulf of Mexico coral reef ecosystems. The Gulf of Mexico Coral Reef Preliminary Report Card is a trinational effort led by the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and UNAM-Sisal.