By Dr. Richard Merrick, NOAA Fisheries
Across America, changes in our climate and oceans are having very real and profound effects on communities, businesses and the natural resources we depend on.
![Brown chromis (Chromis multilineata) and other small reef fish swim over large boulders of Great Star Coral (Montastraea cavernosa) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. (Image credit: NOAA) Brown chromis (Chromis multilineata) and other small reef fish swim over large boulders of Great Star Coral (Montastraea cavernosa) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_width_1275/public/legacy/image/2019/Jun/PHOTO-starcoral-1-pU6GnPb2jPwmodx00sikhA-noaa-112916-800x450-landscape.jpg?itok=roTzO9mg)
Brown chromis (Chromis multilineata) and other small reef fish swim over large boulders of Great Star Coral (Montastraea cavernosa) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. (Image credit: NOAA)