Management of corals and coral ecosystems in the United States |
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| Authors: | David W. Laist Thomas E. Bigford George W. Robertson Doria R. Gordon |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Marine Mammal Commission , Washington, D.C.;2. Habitat Conservation Branch, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA , Gloucester, Massachusetts;3. Formerly of the Institute for Marine Studies , University of Washington , Seattle, Washington;4. Graduate Ecology Group, Division of Environmental Studies , University of California , Davis, California |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Corals and coral communities provide substantial societal benefits by virtue of their recreational and esthetic appeal, the habitat provided for commercially harvested fish and shellfish, the structural foundation provided for productive coastal ecosystems, and the market value of harvested coral specimens. Coral resources are subject to adverse effects from pollution, dredging, specimen collecting, anchor damage, commercial fishing, overharvesting, and activities related to offshore petroleum development. Management programs which protect coral resources in the United States comprise a patchwork of separate federal and state programs. They attempt to adapt broad regulatory authorities for parks, fisheries, offshore mineral resources, and other subjects for the purpose of coral conservation. These programs embody species‐specific, area‐specific, and generic approaches to coral management. This paper traces the evolution of U.S. coral management programs and comments on their respective strengths and weaknesses. Alternative approaches for strengthening management systems could include new coordinating committees, legislation, memoranda of agreement between involved agencies, and others. |
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