Coral Reef Protection in South Florida at the Federal, State, and Local Levels By

Coral reefs are unique, diverse, and delicate ecosystems that are only located in limited areas of the United States. Southeast Florida supports the only coral reef system offshore of the continental United States. In the past thirty years, scientists and policymakers have discovered the importance of coral reefs for their biodiversity, aesthetics, and importance as a coastal barrier. Coral reefs are sensitive to their surroundings and are easily damaged. Without proper protection they could disappear and some of the fauna they support could become degraded and ultimately extinct. Because of the ecological importance of coral reefs, many environmental laws have been promulgated to protect coral reefs both directly and indirectly. Over time, these laws and associated regulations have been amended to provide better protection, including mechanisms for enforcement and methods to address cumulative effects on reefs. Southeast Florida is a particularly interesting area for coral reef management. Coastal construction and development conflict with coral reef protection goals. To better understand how laws and regulations protect coral reef ecosystems in southeast Florida, a thorough examination of those laws and regulations is necessary. This paper relates the statutory language of major environmental laws at the federal, state, and local levels and cites examples of the application of those laws