The “Initiative Française pour les Récifs Coralliens” (IFRECOR), in collaboration with the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, has developed a guide on innovative methods for assessing the condition of coral reefs.

This guide provides an overview of so-called innovative methods (photogrammetry, underwater image and video acquisition systems, environmental DNA, passive acoustics, remote sensing, etc.) in 2025.

The aim is to inform coral reef managers about the benefits and progress of innovative methods for monitoring the condition of coral reefs across all French overseas coral territories. As each territory has its own specific characteristics, the guide suggests different ways of approaching the method depending on the resources available (financial, human, etc.). Innovative methods offer the opportunity to develop new metrics, target previously under-studied compartments, document areas that are difficult to access, and extend the scope of monitoring to larger spatial scales. They have the potential to optimise field time and improve the accuracy of the data collected. However, implementing these methods often comes with a financial and human cost, as well as significant post-fieldwork time, and requires complex data processing tools, involving specific technical skills.

Monitoring guidelines currently only available in French.