What is the extent of coral reefs under U.S. jurisdiction?
The U.S. has jurisdiction over coral reefs covering an estimated 7,607 square miles in the tropical–subtropical belt around the equator. Between 4,479 and 31,470 square miles of coral reefs are under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, collectively referred to in this report as the Pacific Freely Associated States. The report points out that not all coral reef ecosystems had yet been fully mapped as of the publication of the first biennial report, so it provides estimates of square miles covered where detailed mapping remains to be completed. It recommends completing basic mapping of all U.S. reefs, an effort now well under way.
