Critical knowledge gaps in the conservation and restoration of cold-water corals

Introduction:

Critical knowledge gaps hamper effective conservation of threatened cold-water coral (CWC) ecosystems, facing cumulative anthropogenic and climate pressures. This review provides a strategic roadmap for urgent, informed intervention.

Objectives:

This review synthesizes global expert consensus to identify and prioritize key knowledge gaps impeding CWC conservation and restoration. Our objective is to provide a strategic roadmap for research, funding, and policy over the next decade.

Methods:

Through literature synthesis and a global expert panel (i.e. the authors), we identified and prioritized critical knowledge gaps in CWC conservation and restoration. Priorities were defined as challenges addressable within a decade through focused international collaboration and funding.

Results:

We identified 10 knowledge gaps across five themes, including CWC status and distribution, community composition, early life history, metapopulation dynamics and connectivity, growth, and food dynamics. We then provide recommendations for international policy that would support CWC protection.

Conclusions:

Addressing these research priorities is a prerequisite for effective conservation strategies. A coordinated international effort is crucial over the next decade to translate this knowledge into actionable plans and prevent irreversible biodiversity loss.