Fishers, Divers, Scientists, Lawyers, and Marine Protected Areas: The U.S. Experience in Protecting Coral Reefs

Abstract:     
Coral reef tourism in the US provides significant economic benefits that exceed those of reef-based commercial and recreational fisheries. While US coral reefs are subject to a number of stressors, fishing has created the most opposition to coral reef protection. One solution is increased use of coral reef marine protected areas (MPAs), which could simultaneously improve reef-based fisheries. US law provides a number of mechanisms for creating MPAs but contains no clear policy in favor of coral reef preservation. Nevertheless, a tension between fishing and coral reef ecosystem protection has been emerging in US law, indicating that federal law should be modified to promote coral reef ecosystem preservation.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 11

Keywords: coral reef, ecosystem, marine protected area, MPA, National Marine Sanctuary, National Marine Monument, Antiquities Act, Endangered Species Act, executive order, fishing

Accepted Paper Series