Legislative Background on U.S. Ocean Policy
Recent Action by Congress on Marine Environment Protection
Over the past 40 years, Congress has enacted a number of laws designed to provide guidelines for Federal agencies in protecting the marine environment. The major ones include: Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, to preserve coral reef ecosystems and promote better management and information on their current condition. Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, enacted in 1976 and reauthorized in 1996 as the Sustainable Fisheries Act. The law established the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (3 to 200 nautical miles offshore) and provided guidelines for fisheries. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, mandating an ecosystem-based management approach to marine resources and…
