Management of the biological, ecological, and socioeconomic aspects of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) is vital to the survival of these ecosystems. Coral disease, bleaching events, and shifting baselines at mesophotic depths have been documented by scientists and the causes and consequences may be quite different from shallow-water reefs.

Potential threats include:

• Extreme weather events (e.g. hurricanes)
• Climate variability (e.g. ENSO, PDO)
• Cold-water intrusion (e.g. upwelling, internal tidal waves)
• Warm-water downwelling
• Overfishing
• Pollution
• Land-based sources of pollution, sedimentation and freshwater
• Harmful algal blooms (e.g. macroalgae, benthic cyanobacteria)
• Invasive species (e.g. the octocoral Carijoa riisei)
• Global warming
• Habitat destruction (e.g. trawling, offshore drilling)
• Coral disease
• Coral bleaching
• Ocean acidification

A better understanding of MCEs is needed and will likely offer potential findings of major interest for conservation and resource management.

Potential management strategies could include:

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
• Fishing regulations
• Outreach and education
• Watershed management
• Regulation of oil and gas exploration and structures