1999 

 NATIONAL OVERVIEW 



versely affect EFH must consult with the Secretary of Commerce, through NMFS, regard- 

 ing the effects of their actions on the habitat and on the associated fisheries. NMFS can 

 provide conservation and enhancement recommendations where appropriate, designed to 

 minimize adverse impacts to EFH. These new policies incorporate the precautionary ap- 

 proach into the management of hsh habitats. 



Coastal zones contain the most productive marine ecosystems, providing habitats 

 and essential spawning and nursery areas tor most oi the major commercial and recre- 

 ational fishery species. The habitats of the coastal zone also provide a number oi critical 

 services that maintain the health and stability of the coastal ecosystems benefiting the or- 

 ganisms that depend on the system and man. Coastal and riparian wetlands serve as effi- 

 cient filters for contaminants derived from land-based runoff, moderate the effects of flood- 

 ing, and, along with coral reefs, buffer storm surges and help retard coastal erosion. Coastal 

 habitats (mangrove swamps, estuarine oyster beds, salt marsh wetlands, seagrass beds, coral 

 reefs, etc.), although highly productive, are fragile, and susceptible to degradation through 

 human activities. It is here, where the shore meets the sea, and where people are most 

 inclined to build, manufacture, and recreate, that the most susceptible and diverse aspects 

 of marine life exist. 



Sockeye salmon in spawn- 

 ing river. Pacific Northwest. 



As the world's most biologically diverse marine ecosystems, coral reefs are home to 

 one-third of all marine fish species and tens of thousands of other species. Coral reef areas 

 under U.S. jurisdiction cover approximately 16,879 square kilometers. In the United States, 

 coral reefs appear threatened wherever they are close to large concentrations of people; 

 however, data are available to monitor the status and trends of U.S. coral reefs in only a few 

 sites. The International Year of the Reef 1997, and the 1998 Executive Order on Coral 

 Reef Protection are providing impetus to new reef monitoring programs that should greatly 

 increase our understanding of the status and outlook for coral reefs worldwide. 



If coral reefs represent the most diverse marine communities, coastal wetlands and 

 estuaries rank among the most productive ecosystems. These systems, including salt marshes, 

 seagrass beds, and mangroves, are associated with some of the world's greatest fisheries, and 

 provide habitat for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. They also provide critical ecologi- 

 cal functions supplying nutrients for nearshore production, filtering land runoff, and stabi- 

 lizing coastal lands. Approximately 75 percent, by weight, of the Nation's commercial fish 





Diver amid kelp and coral 

 off California coast. 



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