At their joint meeting in Miami in June 2006, the Habitat and Coral Advisory Panels received updates on recent research on the status and distribution of deepwater coral systems in the region. Based on this new information, the Panels proposed to consolidate and expand the 6 original areas into 4. The Council subsequently voted to adopt the Panels' proposal. Action to establish the 4 new deepwater coral HAPCs will be taken through the Comprehensive Fishery Ecosystem Plan Amendment currently under development.
At their joint meeting in Charleston in November 2007 Habitat and Coral Advisory Panels received recent research updates on on the status and distribution of deepwater coral systems in the region. Based on this new information, the Panels proposed to reaffirm the 4 areas and add a fifth, the Blake Ridge Diapir. The Council subsequently voted to adopt the Panels' proposal for inclusion into the public hearing draft for the Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment.