Energy, environment and natural resources

Executive Order 13089: Coral Reef Protection

President: Bill Clinton

Directed federal agencies to protect coral reefs and created an interagency task force for mapping, research and conservation.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13089 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13089 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13089 do?

EO 13089 told federal agencies to identify actions affecting US coral reefs and, within their lawful powers, avoid degrading them. It created the US Coral Reef Task Force, co-chaired by Interior and Commerce through NOAA, to coordinate mapping, research and restoration with states, territories and other partners. The task force adopted a national action plan in 2000 and was later codified in law in 2022. The order did not itself create a new private-party permit or guarantee reef recovery.

Administration position: The order sets federal policy and coordination duties, subject to statutory authority, appropriations and limited emergency exceptions.
SignedJune 11, 1998
Federal RegisterJune 16, 1998, 63 FR 32701
Task forceInterior and NOAA co-chairs
Current federal membership14 agencies
Later actionTask force codified in 2022

Before and after

Before the order

Federal agencies and territorial partners had separate coral-reef programs and an existing Coral Reef Initiative.

After the order

The task force coordinated coral mapping, scientific research and restoration measures.

The 2000 national action plan and 2022 statutory reauthorization provided later program structures.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Federal agenciesIdentify reef-affecting actions and use lawful powers to protect reefsOngoing within legal authority
Interior and NOAACo-chair the US Coral Reef Task ForceFrom establishment
Task forceCoordinate mapping, monitoring, research and conservationOngoing program work

What happened next

EO 13089 signed.

Task Force held its 51st meeting in Puerto Rico.