The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) Steering Committee gathered in Jeddah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), in September 2024, alongside the 38th International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) General Meeting, to discuss strategies, reports, and new data initiatives to address the growing challenges facing coral reefs worldwide, including the production of “Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025“ report. Representatives from various GCRMN regions shared updates, highlighting data collection progress, regional challenges, and future goals.
Plans for the upcoming Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025 report were presented, emphasizing the need for accurate, real-time data and policy-relevant recommendations. The 2025 report aims to provide an update to the Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020 report to support Governments and the wider coral reef community to take informed decisions on how to address the effects of climate-induced disturbances, including the ongoing global coral bleaching event, which has been devastating reefs globally.
Key regional updates included efforts in the Pacific and the Caribbean to produce a comprehensive regional reports, and initiatives in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and the reinvigoration of the ROPME Sea Area region, to map and conserve critical habitats. The GCRMN Data Taskforce, co-chaired by Erica Towle from NOAA, and Jeremy Wicquart (GCRMN), outlined advancements in data management to support global and regional reports, promoting accessible, standardized data for ongoing coral reef assessments.
The Steering Committee called for collaborative efforts in data sharing, capacity building, and innovative strategies to enhance the GCRMN’s mission to protect coral reefs. As the network approaches its 30th anniversary in 2025, regions are encouraged to contribute stories, images, and data to celebrate this milestone and reinforce global commitments to coral reef conservation.
All the photos from the Steering Committee meeting and the 38th ICRI General Meeting can be accessed here.
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