Science Reports and Documents | Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

This page contains links to sanctuary reports that summarize our scientific research and monitoring efforts.

A more comprehensive listing of scientific publications and articles associated with sanctuary research, is available on our Research Publications page.

Annual Research Reports

The purpose of these reports is to document the activities of the Flower Garden Banks Research Team during each fiscal year (October 1st to September 30th).

Diver using a syringe to collect a mucus sample from a brain coral

2020 Research Report

Impact Reports

These reports provide a summary of pressures on sanctuary resources and the potential impacts of those pressures.

A derelict fishing net covered in marine growth lies draped across deep reef habitat

Marine Debris on Reefs and Banks in the Vicinity of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

(ONMS-23-02)

Section of coral reef with lots of bleached corals

Summary of Past and Projected Future Climate Impacts to Coral Reefs in the Flower Garden Banks

(2021)

Reefscape of healthy corals and small reef fish

Strategy for Stony Coral tissue Loss Disease Prevention and Response at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (Version 1)

(ONMS-21-06)

Orange Christmas tree worm on mountainous star coral

Increasing coral calcification in Orbicella faveolata and Pseudodiploria strigosa at Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

Document title overlayed on an image of coral and colorful fishes

FGBNMS Climate Change Impacts Profile

2008 Condition Report
- A summary of marine resources in the sanctuary, pressures on those resources, current condition and trends, and management responses to the pressures that threaten the integrity of the marine environment. Additional information available on the 2008 Condition Report web page.

Biological Considerations of the Effects of Spearfishing
- A summary of research regarding the impacts of spearfishing on biological communities.

Marine Debris Sightings in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico
- Marine debris sightings data extracted from Deep Fish Habitat (DFH) ROV video transect transcripts, 2002-2015.

Long-Term Monitoring Reports: East and West Flower Garden Banks

These reports summarize fish and benthic community observations and water quality data collected from East Flower Garden Bank and West Flower Garden Bank long-term monitoring study sites. The annual long-term monitoring program began in 1989 and is funded by NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, with support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

For long-term monitoring reports prior to 2011, please visit the BOEM website.

Loggerhead sea turtle swims over the coral reef at West Flower Garden Bank

Long-term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2020 and 2021 Annual Report

(ONMS-22-01)

Grouper and a few small fish in blue water as backdrop for words - Coral reef condition: Good. A status report for the Flower Garden Banks

National Coral Reef Monitoring Program FGBNMS 2020 Status Report - part of a series of reports on the status and trends of U.S. coral reefs

Manta ray swims past diver in reef study site at East Flower Garden Bank

Long-term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2019 Annual Report

(ONMS-21-02)

Long-term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2018 Annual Report

(ONMS-20-09)

Long-Term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2017 Annual Report (ONMS-18-02)

Long-Term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2016 Annual Report (ONMS-17-09)

Long-Term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2015 Annual Report (ONMS-16-02)

Long-Term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2014 Annual Report

Long-Term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2013 Annual Report

Long-Term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2011-2012. Volume 1: Technical Report

Long-Term Monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2011-2012. Volume 2: Appendixes

Long-Term Monitoring Reports: Stetson Bank

Stetson Bank is an uplifted claystone/siltstone feature located within Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which supports a diverse benthic community of sponges and coral. Annual monitoring of the bank crest has been conducted since 1993. Surveys of the mesophotic zone surrounding the bank crest were added in 2015.