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HR 4483 102th Congress House

Coral Reef Stewardship Act

Official title: To protect and promote stewardship of coral reef ecosystems.

Introduced: July 8, 1992 See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection American technical assistanceAquariumsBiological researchCongressional reporting requirements
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DamagesEndangered animalsEnvironmental assessmentEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental researchFederal aid to researchFines (Penalties)Foreign Trade and International FinanceInternational environmental cooperationLiability for environmental damagesLiability for marine accidentsMaricultureMarine biologyMarine parks and reservesMarine resources conservationMarine safetyNavigationNegotiationsReefsResearch grantsRevolving fundsTrade regulationTreatiesUnited Nations
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 5, 1992
Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations Discharged.
Aug 5, 1992
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Aug 5, 1992
Ordered Reported with an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute.
Mar 30, 1992
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations.
Mar 20, 1992
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oceanography, Great Lakes, and the Outer Continental Shelf.
Mar 20, 1992
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Interior, State, DOT, EPA, National Academy of Sciences.
Mar 18, 1992
Referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Mar 18, 1992
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mar 18, 1992
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 5, 1992

Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations Discharged.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Coral Reef Stewardship Act - Prohibits a person who is subject to U.S. jurisdiction from operating a vessel to injure, or present a clear and present danger of injuring, a coral reef ecosystem. Provides for: (1) civil penalties; (2) liability for response costs and damages, including liability in rem; and (3) enforcement by the Secretaries of Transportation and of Commerce.

Deposits response costs and recovered damages in the existing Damage Assessment and Restoration Revolving Fund. Specifies uses of the amounts, including for: (1) response actions; (2) resource restoration or replacement, recovery monitoring, and management of national marine sanctuaries; and (3) enforcement of these provisions and of specified provisions of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.

Mandates a report to the Congress on the need for additional measures to improve navigation safety around coral reefs.

Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce, for the benefit of the contracting parties, to conduct domestic and international training programs regarding restrictions on coral trade and management of coral reefs.

Mandates a report on the laws of other nations on coral reef protection.

Requires: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency to issue habitat quality criteria that will protect and restore coral reefs; and (2) States, in developing programs under specified provisions of Federal law relating to protecting coastal waters, to include policies for coral reef protection and restoration.

Establishes in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a program of monitoring and public education relating to coral reefs. Mandates technical assistance and training to foreign government reef management employees.

Establishes a program of grants under the National Sea Grant College Program to support research on aquaculture of marine species of fish and invertebrates associated with coral reefs that are commonly collected from the wild for display in public or private aquaria.

Requires negotiations with other nations on multilateral and regional agreements for coral reef protection. Requires the negotiations, as much as practicable, to be pursued through the Regional Seas Programs of the United Nations Environment Program.

Authorizes appropriations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4483: Coral Reef Stewardship Act. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4483/
MLA
"H.R. 4483: Coral Reef Stewardship Act." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4483/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4483, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4483/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4483: Coral Reef Stewardship Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-4483/)
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