Marine invertebrates

Coral reefs are some of the most valuable and spectacular places on earth. Covering less than 1% of the planet's surface, coral reefs and their associated mangrove, seagrass, and other habitats are the world's most biologically diverse marine ecosystems. Coral reefs are valuable assets providing food, jobs, protection from storms and billions of dollars in revenues each year to local communities and national economies. Coral reefs are in crisis. Reef ecosystems are now being rapidly degraded and destroyed worldwide by a variety of human activities. The coral reef crisis threatens the survival of these valuable and ancient marine ecosystems, and the communities and economies that depend on them. The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) was established by President Clinton in June 1998 though Executive Order #13089 on Coral Reef Protection to lead the U.S. response to this growing, global environmental crisis. Chaired by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, the CRTF is composed of the heads of 11 federal agencies and the Governors of 7 states, territories or commonwealths with responsibilities for coral reefs. The CRTF is responsible for overseeing implementation of the Executive Order, and developing and implementing coordinated efforts to: map and monitor U.S. coral reefs; research the causes and solutions to coral reef degradation; reduce and mitigate coral reef degradation from pollution, over fishing and other causes; implement strategies to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs internationally.
http://coralreef.gov/