---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6415"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6415"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6415"
units:
  - "Chapter 83 — Coral Reef Conservation"
---

# §6415. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Administrator—** The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- (2) **Alaska Native Corporation—** The term “Alaska Native Corporation” has the meaning given the term “Native Corporation” in [section 1602 of title 43](/usc/43/1602.md).
- (3) **Appropriate congressional committees—** The term “appropriate congressional committees” means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
- (4) **Conservation—** The term “conservation” means the use of methods and procedures necessary to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) or sustain [native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) [corals](#5) and associated species as diverse, viable, and self-perpetuating [coral reef ecosystems](#8) with minimal impacts from invasive species, including—
  - (A) all activities associated with resource management, such as monitoring, assessment, protection, [restoration](#19), sustainable use, management of habitat, and maintenance or augmentation of genetic diversity;
  - (B) mapping;
  - (C) scientific expertise and technical assistance in the development and implementation of management strategies for marine protected [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and marine resources required by Federal law;
  - (D) law enforcement;
  - (E) conflict resolution initiatives;
  - (F) community outreach and education; and
  - (G) promotion of safe and ecologically sound navigation and anchoring.
- (5) **Coral—** The term “coral” means species of the phylum Cnidaria, including—
  - (A) all species of the orders Antipatharia (black [corals](#5)), Scleractinia (stony [corals](#5)), Alcyonacea (soft [corals](#5), organ pipe [corals](#5), gorgonians), and Helioporacea (blue [coral](#5)), of the class Anthozoa; and
  - (B) all species of the order Anthoathecata (fire [corals](#5) and other hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.
- (6) **Coral products—** The term “coral products” means any living or dead specimens, parts, or derivatives, or any product containing specimens, parts, or derivatives, of any species of [coral](#5).
- (7) **Coral reef—** The term “coral reef” means calcium carbonate structures in the form of a reef or shoal, composed in whole or in part by living [coral](#5), skeletal remains of [coral](#5), crustose coralline algae, and other associated sessile marine plants and animals.
- (8) **Coral reef ecosystem—** The term “coral reef ecosystem” means—
  - (A) [corals](#5) and other geographically and ecologically associated marine communities of other reef organisms (including reef plants and animals) associated with [coral reef](#7) habitat; and
  - (B) the biotic and abiotic factors and processes that control or significantly affect [coral](#5) calcification rates, tissue growth, reproduction, recruitment, abundance, [coral](#5)-algal symbiosis, and biodiversity in such habitat.
- (9) **Coral reef ecosystem services—** The term “coral reef ecosystem services” means the attributes and benefits provided by [coral reef ecosystems](#8) including—
  - (A) protection of coastal beaches, structures, and infrastructure;
  - (B) habitat for organisms of economic, ecological, biomedical, medicinal, and cultural value;
  - (C) serving as centers for the promulgation, performance, and training of cultural practices representative of traditional ecological knowledge; and
  - (D) aesthetic value.
- (10) **Covered Native entity—** The term “covered Native entity” means a [Native entity](#17) with interests in a [coral reef ecosystem](#8).
- (11) **Covered reef manager—** The term “covered reef manager” means—
  - (A) a management [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of a [covered State](#12) with jurisdiction over a [coral reef ecosystem](#8);
  - (B) a [covered State](#12); or
  - (C) a [coral reef](#7) [stewardship](#23) partnership under [section 6405 of this title](/usc/16/6405.md).
- (12) **Covered State—** The term “covered State” means Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.
- (13) **Federal reef manager—**
  - (A) **In general—** The term “Federal reef manager” means—
    - (i) a management [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of a Federal agency specified in [subparagraph (B)](#13-B) with lead management jurisdiction over a [coral reef ecosystem](#8); or
    - (ii) a [coral reef](#7) [stewardship](#23) partnership under [section 6405(c) of this title](/usc/16/6405.md?p=c).
  - (B) **Federal agencies specified—** A Federal agency specified in this subparagraph is one of the following:
    - (i) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    - (ii) The National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service.
    - (iii) The United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service.
    - (iv) The Office of Insular Affairs.
- (14) **Institution of higher education—** The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in [section 1001 of title 20](/usc/20/1001.md).
- (15) **Interested stakeholder groups—** The term “interested stakeholder groups” means any of the following with interest in an applicable [coral reef](#7) or ecologically significant [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of a [coral reef](#7):
  - (A) A business.
  - (B) A commercial or recreational fisherman.
  - (C) A recreationalist.
  - (D) A Federal, [State](#22), Tribal, or local government [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) with related jurisdiction.
  - (E) An [institution of higher education](#14) (as such term is defined in [section 1001(a) of title 20](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a).[^1]
  - (F) A nongovernmental organization.
- (16) **National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy—** The term “National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy” means the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy in effect under [section 6403 of this title](/usc/16/6403.md).
- (17) **Native entity—** The term “Native entity” means any of the following:
  - (A) An Indian Tribe (as defined in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md)).
  - (B) An [Alaska Native Corporation](#2).
  - (C) The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
  - (D) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
  - (E) A [Native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) Hawaiian organization (as defined in [section 7517 of title 20](/usc/20/7517.md)).
- (18) **Nonprofit organization—** The term “nonprofit organization” means any corporation, [trust](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=4), association, cooperative, or other organization, not including an [institution of higher education](#14), that—
  - (A) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest;
  - (B) is not organized primarily for profit; and
  - (C) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization.
- (19) **Restoration—** The term “restoration” means the use of methods and procedures necessary to enhance, rehabilitate, recreate, or create a functioning [coral reef](#7) or [coral reef ecosystem](#8), in whole or in part, within suitable waters of the historical geographic range of such ecosystems, to provide ecological, economic, cultural, or coastal resiliency services associated with healthy [coral reefs](#7) and benefit [native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) populations of [coral reef](#7) organisms.
- (20) **Resilience—** The term “resilience” means the capacity for [corals](#5) within their [native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) range, [coral reefs](#7), or [coral reef ecosystems](#8) to resist and recover from natural and human disturbances, and maintain structure and function to provide [coral reef ecosystem services](#9), as determined by clearly identifiable, measurable, and science-based standards.
- (21) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.
- (22) **State—** The term “State” means—
  - (A) any [State](#22) of the United States that contains a [coral reef ecosystem](#8) within its seaward boundaries;
  - (B) American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the United States Virgin Islands; or
  - (C) any other territory or possession of the United States or separate sovereign in free association with the United States that contains a [coral reef ecosystem](#8) within its seaward boundaries.
- (23) **Stewardship—** The term “stewardship”, with respect to a [coral reef](#7), includes [conservation](#4), [restoration](#19), and public outreach and education.
- (24) **Task Force—** The term “Task Force” means the United States [Coral Reef](#7) Task Force established under [section 6451 of this title](/usc/16/6451.md).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. A closing parenthesis probably should precede the period.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 216, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3948.)