Overview:
Palau will host the 53rd U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in May 2027, bringing U.S. federal agencies, Pacific island governments and marine conservation partners to Palau to address growing threats to coral reefs. The announcement came during the 52nd meeting in Washington, D.C., where PICRC Director of Research Geraldine Rengiil represented Palau.
The 52nd U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Meeting took place from August 27 to September 4, 2026, at the Department of the Interior (DOI) Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event brought together leaders from U.S. federal agencies, states, territories, and Freely Associated States to discuss current threats to coral reef ecosystems, review national priorities, and strengthen interagency coordination. Representing the Republic of Palau as its official Point of Contact was Geraldine Rengiil, Director of Research at the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC).
The event began with two days of discussions focused on updates from the All Islands Committee (AIC), as well as a review of policies, jurisdictional challenges, and collaborative initiatives. Over the following days, Working Groups focused on Fisheries, Enforcement, and Restoration/Coral Disease and Disturbance convened to report on progress and address regional and jurisdictional commitments. Additional sessions included a NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training (ARSET) workshop and an update for Pacific delegates on the Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Areas Community (PIMPAC).
The USCRTF Business Meeting, held on September 2 at the DOI Yates Auditorium, was open to the public and attended by the two USCRTF Co-Chairs, Angel A. Demapan (Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular, International, and Ocean Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior) and Nicole LeBoeuf (Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, U.S. Department of Commerce).
The agenda included reports on the AIC’s priorities and actions over the past year, an international update, information on the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), which is a highly lethal coral disease in the Atlantic and Caribbean that could spread to the Pacific, Bright Spots presentations and discussions underscoring the severity of El Niño conditions and the potential for ocean warming and coral bleaching associated with marine heatwaves.
At the conclusion of the Business Meeting, it was announced that the Republic of Palau will officially host the 53rd U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting in May 2027. This is a major milestone for Palau and a testament to its leadership in marine conservation, as it will mark the third time the country has hosted the USCRTF, following the 14th meeting in November 2005 and the 42nd meeting in September 2019.
Hosting the 53rd USCRTF Meeting builds on Palau’s longstanding commitment to international collaboration in coral reef conservation and will provide an opportunity to continue strengthening partnerships and highlighting Palau’s ongoing work in this area.
Organizing an international event of this scale requires coordination across multiple levels, and Palau’s experience hosting previous USCRTF meetings provides a strong foundation for another successful gathering in May 2027.