The most robust authorities are found within protected areas, such as national marine sanctuaries. However, other authorities are available if a ship grounding includes oil pollution or hazardous waste discharges or the threat of these. The Act gives NOAA the authority to take several actions in the case of ship groundings on or other damages to coral reefs. For example, it states that the U.S. may recover response costs and damages resulting from destruction, loss, or injury of any national marine sanctuary resource. The National Marine Sanctuaries Act gives NOAA the authority to establish regulations necessary and reasonable to implement the Act.
Several regulations are the same across sites.
Others are tailored to the diverse resources and needs of individual sanctuaries. The development of effective and sustainable management strategies requires understanding of information gained through objective scientific studies. The following are examples of unique management strategies used to protect coral reefs in the national marine sanctuaries and the role science has played in making policy and management decisions. Fagatele Bay Gray's Reef Florida Keys Hawaiian Islands Flower Garden Banks Commercial fishing is prohibited in Fagatele Bay. Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary .