§ 6405 — Coral Reef Stewardship Partnerships

(a) To further community-based stewardship of coral reefs, coral reef stewardship partnerships for Federal and non-Federal coral reefs may be established in accordance with this section. (b) The Administrator shall develop and adopt— (1) standards for identifying individual coral reefs and ecologically significant units of coral reefs; and (2) processes for adjudicating multiple applicants for stewardship of the same coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a reef to ensure no geographic overlap in representation among stewardship partnerships authorized by this section. (c) A coral reef stewardship partnership that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef that is fully or partially under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 6402(c) of this title shall, at a minimum, include the following: (1) That Federal agency, a representative of which shall serve as chairperson of the coral reef stewardship partnership. (2) A State or county’s resource management agency to the extent that such partnership covers a reef within such States or county’s jurisdiction. (3) A coral reef research center designated under section 6411(b) of this title. (4) A nongovernmental organization. (5) A covered Native entity culturally affiliated with the subject reef or ecologically significant unit, if any. (6) Such other members as the partnership considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups and covered Native entities. (1) A coral reef stewardship partnership that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant component of a coral reef that is not under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 6402(c) of this title shall, at a minimum, include the following: (A) A State or county’s resource management agency or a covered Native entity, a representative of which shall serve as the chairperson of the coral reef stewardship partnership. (B) A coral reef research center designated under section 6411(b) of this title. (C) A nongovernmental organization. (D) Such other members as the partnership considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups. (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) may also include representatives of one or more Federal agencies. (B) A representative of a Federal agency described in subparagraph (A) may become a member of a coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) if— (i) the representative submits a request to become a member to the chairperson of the partnership referred to in paragraph (1)(A); and (ii) the chairperson consents to the request. (e) shall not apply to coral reef stewardship partnerships under this section.