The most appropriate protocol to use will depend on the aim of the monitoring program (what questions you want to answer) and your available resources. The following steps will help you identify the monitoring protocol that best suits your needs.

Step 1: Define the question.
Questions may include:

1. What is the extent and severity of coral bleaching?

2. How much coral died and/or recovered from bleaching?

3. Has bleaching affected coral community composition?

4. Are there any areas that appear to be naturally resistant and/or resilient to coral bleaching?

5. What are the socioeconomic impacts of bleaching?

Step 2: Identify which monitoring protocol is best suited to your needs based on your question and the available resources (costs and expertise).