CRTF Members

Co-Chairs

Department of Commerce
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
NOAA's Mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and wisely manage the Nation's coastal and marine resources. NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Programsupports effective management and sound science to preserve, sustain, and restore valuable coral reef ecosystems.

Department of the Interior (DOI)
The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes. Coral reefs are considered trust resources, which, along with others, such as threatened and endangered species, wetlands, refuges, and migratory ducks, and are therefore subject to DOI policies. DOI bureaus responsible for coral reef ecosystems resources are: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Insular Affairs, United States Geological Survey, National Park Service, and Minerals Management Service. These bureaus are cooperatively working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance coral reef ecosystems for the continuing benefit of the American people.
U.S. Department of the Interior: Protecting the Nation's Coral Reefs

National Park Service (DOI)
The National Park Service (NPS) is a world leader in the parks and preservation community, an environmental advocate, and a pioneer in protecting America's open spaces. NPS protects our diverse natural, cultural, and recreational resources in the National Park System, including 40 that contain marine and estuarine resources. Of these, a total of ten National Park units conserve more than 276,000 acres of coral reefs ranging from South Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the Hawaiian Islands and the territories of Guam and American Samoa.

Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. FWS also protects and restores reefs and other species and habitats, enforces laws and works with other countries to foster reef conservation worldwide. The mission of the FWS National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

U.S. Geological Survey (DOI)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), established in 1879, is the Nations principal natural science and information agency, conducting research, monitoring and assessments to improve our understanding of the natural world Americas lands, water, and biological resources. The USGS provides reliable, impartial information that is used by managers, planners and citizens to understand, assess and plan for changes in our environment. With research centers and field stations in south Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii and elsewhere across the Nation, USGS is providing resource managers with information critical to understanding the ecology, health, and management of coral reefs.

Office of Insular Affairs (DOI)
The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carries out the Secretary of the Interior s responsibilities for the insular affairs. OIA coordinates Federal policy in the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. With the majority of U.S. coral reefs located in the insular areas, OIA plays an important role in improving the management and protection of the Nations coral reefs. OIA also provides technical and financial assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau which share financial, diplomatic and military ties with the United States through a special relationship known as the Compact of Free Association. The freely associated states have some of the richest coral reef resources in the world and some of the oldest and most effective traditional management systems.

Minerals Management Service (DOI)
To manage the mineral resources on the outer continental shelf in an environmentally sound and safe manner and to timely collect, verify, and distribute mineral revenues from federal and Indian lands.

Federal Agency Members

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the independent government agency that provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to provide a better future for all. USAID has provided development and foreign disaster assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. The Agency supports coral reef conservation and coastal management efforts in over 20 countries.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Enhance the quality of life for the American people by supporting production of agriculture: 1) ensuring a safe, affordable, nutritious, and accessible food supply, 2) caring for agricultural, forest, and range lands, 3) supporting sound development of rural communities, 4) providing economic opportunities for farm and rural residents, 5) expanding global markets for agricultural and forest products and services, and 6) working to reduce hunger in America and throughout the world.

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the primary federal agency that works with private landowners to help them conserve, maintain and improve their natural resources. The Agency emphasizes voluntary, science-based conservation; technical assistance; partnerships; incentive-based programs; and cooperative problem solving at the community level.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
The mission of the Department of Defense (DoD) is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the United States.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (DoD)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers conservation, environmental preservation, and restoration in all missions, operating under strict Environmental Operating Principles. The Corps missions include water infrastructure, environmental management and restoration, regulation of activities that affect the nations aquatic environment, response to natural and manmade disasters, and engineering and technical services. The Corps' services are provided to the Army, DoD and other Federal agencies, as well as other customers.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a multi-mission maritime service and one of the Nation's five Armed Services. Its mission is to protect the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests in the Nation's ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security. One of our strategic goals is the protection of natural resources. To accomplish this goal, we will strive to eliminate environmental damage and natural resource degradation associated with all maritime activities, including transportation, commercial fishing, and recreational boating.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is the principal law enforcement organization in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. The DOJ performs a wide range of duties that include investigating, apprehending, and prosecuting violators of Federal criminal statutes; representing the United States in Federal courts, including the Supreme Court; enforcing immigration laws; and operating and maintaining the Federal Prison System.

U.S. Department of State (DOS)
U.S. diplomacy is an instrument of power, essential for maintaining effective international relationships, and a principal means through which the United States defends its interests, responds to crises, and achieves its international goals. The Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy, a mission based on the role of the Secretary of State as the President's principal foreign policy adviser.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects human health and safeguards the natural environment upon which all life depends. EPA contributes to the protection of our nation's ocean and coastal resources by striving to ensure that our waters, including coral reefs, are successfully managed, protected, and restored to sustain healthy biological communities and to protect human health. EPA's ocean and coastal protection activities emphasize habitat protection, partnerships, programs addressing ocean-based and land-based sources of coastal and ocean pollution, and water quality monitoring and assessment. Whenever possible, these activities are implemented on an integrated watershed basis, addressing air, land, and ecosystem relationships.

National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)"
To understand and protect our home planet,
To explore the universe and search for life,
To inspire the next generation of explorers, as only NASA can.

National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of nearly $5.47 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 40,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,000 new funding awards. In particular, they provide over $10 million per year for research on coral reefs, their associated ecosystems, the organisms inhabiting them, and the geological setting of reefs.

State and Territory Members

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
On 11 February 1983, Public Law 3-47 took effect, establishing the Coastal Resources Management Office in the Office of the Governor. The Coastal Resources Management Program was established in order to promote the conservation and wise development of coastal resources.

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

State of Florida
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is the lead agency in state government for environmental management and stewardship. The department administers regulatory programs and issues permits for air, water and waste management. It oversees the State's land and water conservation program, Florida Forever, and manages the nationally award-winning Florida Park Service.

The FDEPs Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) is responsible for the management of Florida's 41 Aquatic Preserves, 3 National Estuarine Research Reserves, 1 National Marine Sanctuary, and the FDEP Coral Reef Conservation Program.

The FDEP Coral Reef Conservation Program is coordinating the implementation of Florida's Local Action Strategy, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative and is responsible for promoting and coordinating research, monitoring, partnerships, and stakeholder participation in the protection of southeast Florida's reefs.

State of Hawaii
The mission of the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is to manage, conserve and restore the state's unique aquatic resources and ecosystems for present and future generations. The slogan, "Fish for the Future," emphasizes DAR's commitment to sustainably managing fisheries, including coral reef fisheries. Through education, scientific research, monitoring, community-based projects and more, DAR's coral reef program focuses on managing land-based pollution, coral reef fisheries, recreational impacts, aquatic invasive species, and coral disease.

Territory of Guam

Territory of American Samoa
To enhance the quality of life for the present and future generations by directing sound economic development, community planning, and resource management to ensure preservation and enrichment of our natural and cultural resources.

Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) serves as the agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of all laws pertaining to the preservation and conservation of fish and wildlife, trees and vegetation, coastal zones, cultural and historical resources, water resources, and air, water and oil pollution. DPNR is also responsible for oversight and compliance of land survey, land subdivision, development and building permits, code enforcement, earth change permits, zoning administration, boat registration, and mooring and anchoring of vessels in territorial waters. The Department formulates long-range comprehensive and functional development plans for the human, economic, and physical resources of the territory.

One of the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Programs (VICZMP) goals is to protect, preserve, and where feasible, enhance and restore the overall quality of the environment in the coastal zone. VICZMP works, coordinates and partners with various local and national government agencies to develop and implement a variety of projects and programs, including review, processing and enforcement of minor and major development permits in the coastal zone.

Freely Associated States (FAS)
The Freely Associated States were invited to join the Coral Reef Task Force as non-voting members in August 2000.

Federated States of Micronesia

Republic of the Marshall Islands