Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§1212 Investigation and control of crown of thorns starfish
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 25A— - CROWN OF THORNS STARFISH › § 1212
Summary
The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution can study and manage crown-of-thorns starfish. They may research why their numbers grow, how they damage corals and how reefs recover, watch areas where they are increasing, create and run better control programs where needed, and take other steps to learn about their ecology and control.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §1212
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In carrying out the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution are authorized to—
(1)conduct such studies, research, and investigations, as they deem desirable to determine the causes of the population increase of the “Crown of Thorns”, their effects on corals and coral reefs, and the stability and regeneration of reefs following predation;
(2)to monitor areas where the “Crown of Thorns” may be increasing in numbers and to determine future needs for control;
(3)to develop improved methods of control and to carry out programs of control in areas where these are deemed necessary; and
(4)to take such other actions as deemed desirable to gain an understanding of the ecology and control of the seastar “Crown of Thorns”.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
to Secretary of Commerce from Secretary of the Interior by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, see note set out under section 1211 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 1212
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73