§6411 Coral reef research

Summary

The Administrator must name two reef research coordination institutes: one in the Atlantic basin called the Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute and one in the Pacific basin called the Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute. Each institute must be placed inside a single coral reef research center that the Administrator picks. The institutes must run federally funded research to fill national and regional knowledge gaps, improve how we understand and respond to threats to reef resilience under the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy, and support monitoring of conservation and restoration projects paid for under this law. The institutes must also work with States, covered Native entities, reef managers, nonprofits, and other centers; help carry out the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy and coral reef action plans under section 6404; help non-federal agencies use research for management and restoration; and provide education for policymakers, managers, and the public about reefs, best practices, their value, and threats. The Administrator must ask for applications and name coral reef research centers in covered States. A qualifying center must be run by a college or nonprofit marine research group, run major reef research or restoration programs, coordinate with government and other partners, and maintain strong local community outreach.