https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 23.7 2026-04-15T10:53:30.610Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/providers/d987018f-3cae-46b3-b071-c5ffb2b6c845 DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCFHR The Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research conducts research on the effects of coastal habitat change and restoration on living marine resources such as sea grasses, marshes, reefs, and fish. CCFHR has laboratories in Beaufort, North Carolina and at Kasitsna Bay near Seldovia, Alaska. The Center focuses research on injured habitats and communities, and on estimating natural and human induced mortality, growth, and reproduction. These missions support NOAA’s broader mission of sustaining healthy coasts. Research at CCFHR provides the scientific basis for damage assessment to NOS in its role as a resource trustee in the coastal area. CCFHR also provides monitoring protocols during recovery of damaged habitats. The ecological value of habitats such as sea grasses and coral reefs are assessed by CCFHR scientists to aid managers of National Marine Sanctuaries in their stewardship role. These assessments are also employed to evaluate the success of newly established and long–established marine protected areas. Restoration monitoring guidance and models of ecosystem susceptibility to coastal development are provided by CCFHR to NOS managers working to fulfill the Coastal Zone Management Act. The system of National Estuarine Research Reserves benefits from CCFHR research through the establishment of food web linkages and ecological characterization of these natural ecological laboratory sites. Both state and federal coastal resource managers rely on CCFHR to provide population abundance estimates, predictions, and assessments of commercially and recreationally important marine species. Managers of protected species such as marine mammals and sea turtles also use CCFHR’s population assessments. [Summary provided by NOAA.]