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Benthic data, fish surveys and still images from Hawaii Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) starting 1999-01-05 to present

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 03, 2026 at 08:12 AM | Dataset Last Updated: January 27, 2026 at 12:00 AM
This collection consists of Hawaii Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) surveys and include quantitative estimates of substrate type, rugosity, species type, and percent coverage. Digital still images from transects are also included. The datasets consist of image files (JPEG) of digital still photographs and spreadsheets (XLS with exported redundant CSV copies). CRAMP was created during 1997-98 by leading coral reef researchers, managers and educators in Hawaii. The initial task was to develop a statewide network consisting of over 30 long-term coral reef monitoring sites and an associated database. Upon completion of the monitoring network the focus was expanded to include rapid quantitative assessments and habitat mapping on a statewide spatial scale. Today the emphasis is on using these tools to understand the ecology of Hawaiian coral reefs in relation to other geographic areas. CRAMP study sites, including all areas of concern designated by the State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), were selected from throughout the State of Hawaii based on information provided by a wide spectrum of managers, scientists, and educators. These sites represent a full range of reef habitats subjected to various degrees of anthropogenic influences ranging from severely impacted to relatively pristine sites held in conservation status. The West Hawaii Aquarium Project has augmented CRAMP with surveys of fish at CRAMP sites on the west side of the Island of Hawaii. The purpose is to understand the ecology of Hawaiian coral reefs in relation to other geographic areas and to monitor change at each given site. The CRAMP experimental design allows detection of changes that can be attributed to various factors such as: overuse (over-fishing, anchor damage, aquarium trade collection, etc.), sedimentation, nutrient loading, catastrophic natural events (storm wave impact, lava flows), coastal construction, urbanization, global warming (bleaching), introduced species, algal invasions, and fish and invertebrate diseases.

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0000513 0000671 0000728 0000757 0000758 0000879 0000881 0000884

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:ncei.info@noaa.gov"
}
describedByType application/octet-steam
description This collection consists of Hawaii Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) surveys and include quantitative estimates of substrate type, rugosity, species type, and percent coverage. Digital still images from transects are also included. The datasets consist of image files (JPEG) of digital still photographs and spreadsheets (XLS with exported redundant CSV copies). CRAMP was created during 1997-98 by leading coral reef researchers, managers and educators in Hawaii. The initial task was to develop a statewide network consisting of over 30 long-term coral reef monitoring sites and an associated database. Upon completion of the monitoring network the focus was expanded to include rapid quantitative assessments and habitat mapping on a statewide spatial scale. Today the emphasis is on using these tools to understand the ecology of Hawaiian coral reefs in relation to other geographic areas. CRAMP study sites, including all areas of concern designated by the State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), were selected from throughout the State of Hawaii based on information provided by a wide spectrum of managers, scientists, and educators. These sites represent a full range of reef habitats subjected to various degrees of anthropogenic influences ranging from severely impacted to relatively pristine sites held in conservation status. The West Hawaii Aquarium Project has augmented CRAMP with surveys of fish at CRAMP sites on the west side of the Island of Hawaii. The purpose is to understand the ecology of Hawaiian coral reefs in relation to other geographic areas and to monitor change at each given site. The CRAMP experimental design allows detection of changes that can be attributed to various factors such as: overuse (over-fishing, anchor damage, aquarium trade collection, etc.), sedimentation, nutrient loading, catastrophic natural events (storm wave impact, lava flows), coastal construction, urbanization, global warming (bleaching), introduced species, algal invasions, and fish and invertebrate diseases.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "NCEI Dataset Landing Page",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/HIMB-CRAMP",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Granule Search",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/metadata/granule/geoportal/?from=0&size=10&esdsl=%7B%22query%22%3A%7B%22bool%22%3A%7B%22must%22%3A%5B%7B%22query_string%22%3A%7B%22analyze_wildcard%22%3Atrue%2C%22query%22%3A%22fileid%3AHIMB-CRAMP.*%22%7D%7D%5D%7D%7D%7D#searchPanel",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Search for data granules belonging to this collection (a granule is the smallest aggregation of data that can be independently described and retrieved).",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "http://cramp.wcc.hawaii.edu/",
    "accessURL": "http://cramp.wcc.hawaii.edu/",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "program website",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
    "accessURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "NCEI Contact Information",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Information for contacts at NCEI.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) website",
    "accessURL": "http://www.himb.hawaii.edu/",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Institution web page",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  }
]
identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions/iso/xml/HIMB-CRAMP.xml
issued 2001-07-24T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
[
  "0000513",
  "0000671",
  "0000728",
  "0000757",
  "0000758",
  "0000879",
  "0000881",
  "0000884",
  "0000961",
  "0000969",
  "0001115",
  "0001481",
  "0001732",
  "0002288",
  "0002312",
  "0002313",
  "0002464",
  "0002767",
  "0037908",
  "0039383",
  "0039627",
  "0051060",
  "0052882",
  "0056791",
  "0104255",
  "0104357",
  "0117490",
  "0119360",
  "0145644",
  "0147682",
  "0157539",
  "BENTHIC COMMUNITIES",
  "BENTHIC SPECIES",
  "BENTHIC SPECIES - TAXA IDENTITIES",
  "biological data",
  "BIOMASS - PLANKTON",
  "CORAL",
  "CORAL - CENSUS",
  "CORAL - COLONY SIZE",
  "CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION",
  "FISH - CORAL REEF",
  "FISH CENSUS",
  "FISH SPECIES",
  "FISHERY SURVEY",
  "FISHERY SURVEY - CATCH MEASUREMENTS - GENERAL",
  "HABITAT - BENTHIC",
  "HABITAT - SEDIMENT SIZE",
  "images",
  "PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES",
  "REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER",
  "SPECIES IDENTIFICATION",
  "SUBSTRATE DESCRIPTION",
  "SUBSTRATUM PERCENT COVER",
  "Video Transect Images",
  "camera",
  "chain",
  "GPS",
  "photograph",
  "video camera",
  "visual analysis",
  "visual estimate",
  "visual observation",
  "benthic",
  "biological",
  "composition & location",
  "imagery",
  "in situ",
  "manual sample collection",
  "site samples",
  "survey - biological",
  "survey - coral reef",
  "survey - swimmer/diver",
  "visual estimate",
  "visual observation",
  "SWIMMER/DIVER",
  "Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources",
  "Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology",
  "Oceanic Institute",
  "University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa",
  "Washington State University",
  "Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources",
  "Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology",
  "Oceanic Institute",
  "University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa",
  "Washington State University",
  "COASTAL",
  "Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS)",
  "CORAL REEF STUDIES",
  "Hawaii Coral Reef Assessment Monitoring Program (CRAMP)",
  "HAWAII CORAL REEF INITIATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM (HCRI)",
  "WEST HAWAII AQUARIUM PROJECT (WHAP)",
  "Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary",
  "Kaneohe Bay",
  "North Pacific Ocean",
  "Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument",
  "oceanography",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NODC > National Oceanographic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "UHI/SOEST/HIMB > Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii",
  "Visual Images > Habitats",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect monitoring",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > AGRICULTURE > AGRICULTURAL AQUATIC SCIENCES > FISHERIES",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > FISH",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS > VISIBLE IMAGERY",
  "Coastal studies",
  "Coral",
  "Coral reef",
  "Coral reef monitoring and assessment",
  "Coral species",
  "Numeric Data Sets",
  "Numeric Data Sets - benthic",
  "Numeric Data Sets - biology",
  "Numeric Data Sets - oceanographic",
  "Video Image Data Sets",
  "algal species",
  "benthic data",
  "benthic percent coverage of species",
  "benthic taxa name and code",
  "biological data",
  "coastal marine algae",
  "coral reef ecosystems",
  "coral reef species",
  "corals and algae percent cover",
  "corals and algae percent coverage",
  "digital still images",
  "invasive species",
  "invertebrate species",
  "photoquadrat images",
  "still digital images",
  "substrate type",
  "taxa name and code",
  "CAMERA > CAMERA",
  "GPS RECEIVERS > GPS RECEIVERS",
  "VIDEO CAMERA > VIDEO CAMERA",
  "VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS",
  "SCUBA",
  "digital camera",
  "transect tape",
  "SWIMMER/DIVER (ICES code: 33DV)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Pelekane Bay (20N155W0004)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Pelekane Bay (20N155W0004)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Maui Island > Maui Island (20N156W0004)",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN",
  "Gardner Pinnacles",
  "Hakioawa",
  "Halona",
  "Hamoa",
  "Hanalei",
  "Hanauma Bay",
  "Hawaii",
  "Hawaii Kai, Oahu",
  "Heeia",
  "Hoai",
  "Honaunau, Hawaii",
  "Honokohau",
  "Honokohau, Hawaii",
  "Honokowai",
  "Honolua North",
  "Honolua South",
  "Hookena - Auau",
  "Hookena - Kalahiki",
  "Hulopo'e, Lanai",
  "Island of Hawaii",
  "Kaalaea",
  "Kaapahu, Lanai",
  "Kaapuna",
  "Kahe",
  "Kahekili",
  "Kahoolawe",
  "Kailua - S. Oneo Bay",
  "Kalaeahole, Lanai",
  "Kaloko, Hawaii",
  "Kamalo",
  "Kamilioloa",
  "Kamilo",
  "Kamiloloa",
  "Kanehena Bay",
  "Kanehena Pt.",
  "Kauai",
  "Kaununui, Ni'ihau",
  "Kaupulehu",
  "Kawaihae",
  "Kawaihae Harbor",
  "Kawaiihae",
  "Keanapapa, Lanai",
  "Keaulanas",
  "Keawanui Bay, Ni'ihau",
  "Keokea",
  "Keoneoio",
  "Kiekie, Ni'ihau",
  "Kohala",
  "Kure",
  "Laaloa",
  "Lapakahi",
  "Lapakahi, Hawaii",
  "LaupahoeNui",
  "Laupahoehoe",
  "Laysan",
  "Lehua Island, Ni'ihau",
  "Leleiwi",
  "Limahuli",
  "Lisianski",
  "Maalaea",
  "Mahukona, Hawaii",
  "Makaalae",
  "Makalawena",
  "Manana",
  "Manana Island, Oahu",
  "Manele Bay, Lanai",
  "Maui",
  "Maui, Hawaii",
  "Maunalua",
  "Midway",
  "Milolii",
  "Moku o Loe",
  "Molokai",
  "Molokini",
  "N. Keauhou",
  "Nenue",
  "Nenue Pt.",
  "Nihoa",
  "North Pacific",
  "North Pacific Ocean",
  "Northwest Hawaii Islands",
  "Nualolo Kai",
  "Oahu",
  "Oahu, Hawaii",
  "Olowalu",
  "Pacific",
  "Pacific Ocean",
  "Palaau",
  "Palaoa, Lanai",
  "Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument",
  "Papaula Pt.",
  "Papawai",
  "Pearl and Hermes Atoll",
  "Pelekane Bay",
  "Pelekane Bay, Hawaii",
  "Pili O",
  "Puamana",
  "Puhi",
  "Puhi Bay, Hawaii",
  "Punalau",
  "Pupukea",
  "Puukole Point, Ni'ihau",
  "Waikiki, Oahu",
  "Waiopae",
  "Wawaloli",
  "Wawaloli Beach",
  "central north Pacific",
  "benthic",
  "VERTICAL LOCATION > SEA FLOOR",
  "BT7J7H",
  "RK40T9",
  "U5YD44"
]
landingPage https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
language 
[]
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2026-01-27T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
references 
[
  "http://cramp.wcc.hawaii.edu/"
]
rights otherRestrictions
spatial -154.81,19.04,-178.37,28.43
temporal 1999-01-05T00:00:00+00:00/2015-08-05T00:00:00+00:00
theme 
[
  "geospatial"
]
title Benthic data, fish surveys and still images from Hawaii Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) starting 1999-01-05 to present

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