The U.S. Coral Reef Conservation Act
In the United States, the Coral Reef Conservation Act (CRCA) has been awaiting congressional reauthorization since 2005. The 2007 versions of the CRCA that are currently in front of the U.S. Congress provide modest funding for conservation and scientific research. There are also minor changes in governance to improve cooperation between agencies.
However, new additions to the CRCA could take a stronger position on issues such as climate change and overfishing, and include substantive measures to monitor trade of coral items. The CRCA and other government programs need to support sufficient funding for these activities as well as for ongoing scientific research. Speak to your elected officials and let them know that you want to see a strong Coral Reef Conservation Act that includes significant funding for coral conservation and meaningful measures to protect corals.
