---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8303"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8303"
heading: "Coastal Program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8303"
units:
  - "Chapter 102 — Coastal Habitat Conservation"
---

# §8303. Coastal Program


The [Secretary](/usc/16/8302.md?p=11) shall carry out the Coastal Program within the [Service](/usc/16/8302.md?p=12) to—

- (1) identify the leading threats to priority [coastal landscapes](/usc/16/8302.md?p=7) and conservation actions to address those threats in partnership with Federal, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities;
- (2) provide [technical assistance](/usc/16/8302.md?p=13) and [financial assistance](/usc/16/8302.md?p=10) through partnerships with Federal, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities to conduct voluntary [coastal habitat planning](/usc/16/8302.md?p=4), [coastal habitat assessment](/usc/16/8302.md?p=2), [coastal habitat protection](/usc/16/8302.md?p=5-A), [coastal habitat restoration](/usc/16/8302.md?p=6), and [coastal habitat enhancement](/usc/16/8302.md?p=3) [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) on public land or private land;
- (3) ensure the health and resilience of [coastal ecosystems](/usc/16/8302.md?p=1) through adaptive management procedures based on the best available science;
- (4) build the capacity of Federal, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities to carry out environmental conservation and stewardship measures;
- (5) assist in the development and implementation of monitoring protocols to ensure the success of [coastal ecosystem](/usc/16/8302.md?p=1) restoration and [coastal ecosystem](/usc/16/8302.md?p=1) enhancement measures; and
- (6) collaborate and share information with partners and the public relating to best management practices for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of [coastal ecosystems](/usc/16/8302.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–138, § 4, Dec. 11, 2024, 138 Stat. 1653.)