---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6403"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6403"
heading: "National coral reef resilience strategy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6403"
units:
  - "Chapter 83 — Coral Reef Conservation"
---

# §6403. National coral reef resilience strategy

- (a) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/16/6415.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) not later than 2 years after December 23, 2022, develop a [national coral reef resilience strategy](/usc/16/6415.md?p=16); and
  - (2) review and revise the strategy—
    - (A) not less frequently than once every 15 years;
    - (B) not less frequently than once every 5 years, in the case of guidance on best practices under [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4); and
    - (C) as appropriate.
- (b) **Elements—** The strategy required by [subsection (a)](#a) shall include the following:
  - (1) A discussion addressing—
    - (A) continuing and emerging threats to the [resilience](/usc/16/6415.md?p=20) of United States [coral reef ecosystems](/usc/16/6415.md?p=8);
    - (B) remaining gaps in [coral reef ecosystem](/usc/16/6415.md?p=8) research, monitoring, and assessment;
    - (C) the status of management cooperation and integration among [Federal reef managers](/usc/16/6415.md?p=13-A) and [covered reef managers](/usc/16/6415.md?p=11);
    - (D) the status of efforts to manage and disseminate critical information, and enhance interjurisdictional data sharing, related to research, reports, data sets, and [maps](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1);
    - (E) [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of special focus, which may include—
      - (i) improving natural [coral](/usc/16/6415.md?p=5) recruitment;
      - (ii) preventing avoidable losses of [corals](/usc/16/6415.md?p=5) and their habitat;
      - (iii) enhancing the [resilience](/usc/16/6415.md?p=20) of [coral](/usc/16/6415.md?p=5) populations;
      - (iv) supporting a [resilience](/usc/16/6415.md?p=20)-based management approach;
      - (v) developing, coordinating, and implementing watershed [management plans](/usc/16/544.md?p=k);
      - (vi) building and sustaining watershed management capacity at the local level;
      - (vii) providing data essential for [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) fisheries management;
      - (viii) building capacity for [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) fisheries management;
      - (ix) increasing understanding of [coral reef ecosystem services](/usc/16/6415.md?p=9);
      - (x) educating the public on the importance of [coral reefs](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7), threats and solutions; and
      - (xi) evaluating intervention efficacy;
    - (F) the status of [conservation](/usc/16/6415.md?p=4) efforts, including the use of marine protected [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) to serve as replenishment zones developed consistent with local practices and traditions and in cooperation with, and with respect for the scientific, technical, and management expertise and responsibilities of, [covered reef managers](/usc/16/6415.md?p=11);
    - (G) science-based adaptive management and [restoration](/usc/16/6415.md?p=19) efforts; and
    - (H) management of [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) emergencies and disasters.
  - (2) A statement of national goals and objectives designed to guide—
    - (A) future Federal [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) management and [restoration](/usc/16/6415.md?p=19) activities authorized under [section 6402 of this title](/usc/16/6402.md);
    - (B) [conservation](/usc/16/6415.md?p=4) and [restoration](/usc/16/6415.md?p=19) priorities for grants awarded under [section 6410 of this title](/usc/16/6410.md); and
    - (C) research priorities for the reef research coordination institutes designated under [section 6412(b)(1)(B)](/usc/16/6412.md)[^1] of this title.
  - (3) A designation of priority [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for [conservation](/usc/16/6415.md?p=4), and priority [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for [restoration](/usc/16/6415.md?p=19), to support the review and approval of grants under [section 6410(e) of this title](/usc/16/6410.md?p=e).
  - (4) Technical assistance in the form of general templates for use by [covered reef managers](/usc/16/6415.md?p=11) and [Federal reef managers](/usc/16/6415.md?p=13-A) to guide the development of [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) action plans under [section 6404 of this title](/usc/16/6404.md), including guidance on the best science-based practices to respond to [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) emergencies that can be included in [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) action plans.
- (c) **Consultations—** In developing all elements of the strategy required by [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/16/6415.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) consult with the [Secretary](/usc/16/6415.md?p=21) of the Interior, the [Task Force](/usc/16/6415.md?p=24), [covered States](/usc/16/6415.md?p=12), and [covered Native entities](/usc/16/6415.md?p=10);
  - (2) consult with the [Secretary](/usc/16/6415.md?p=21) of Defense, as appropriate;
  - (3) engage stakeholders, including [covered States](/usc/16/6415.md?p=12), [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) [stewardship](/usc/16/6415.md?p=23) partnerships, reef research institutes and research centers described in [section 6412](/usc/16/6412.md)[^1] of this title, and recipients of grants under [section 6410 of this title](/usc/16/6410.md); and
  - (4) solicit public review and comment regarding scoping and the draft strategy.
- (d) **Submission to Congress; publication—** The [Administrator](/usc/16/6415.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) submit the strategy required by [subsection (a)](#a) and any revisions to the strategy to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/16/6415.md?p=3); and
  - (2) publish the strategy and any such revisions on public websites of—
    - (A) the [Coral Reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) [Conservation](/usc/16/6415.md?p=4) Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
    - (B) the [Task Force](/usc/16/6415.md?p=24).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3933.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 6412 of this title, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(C) and (c)(3), probably should be a reference to section 6411 of this title which relates to reef research coordination institutes and coral reef research centers. Subsec. (b)(1)(B) of section 6412 of this title probably should be a reference to section 6411(a)(1) of this title which requires the designation of reef research coordination institutes. Section 6412(b) does not contain a par. (1)(B).

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6403, Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 204, Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 2801, related to coral reef conservation program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3931.