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Health Policies

Health Policies

Health policies are responses that impact the functioning of health sectors, including waste management facilities, biomedical research, and development and sale of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Examples include policies to regulate, install, or upgrade waste management, fund biomedical research, and influence patenting of natural biochemicals.

CMap

Biomedical research policies, including research funding and patent laws regarding natural biochemicals, can influence the demand for biochemicals and the activities of research and development. Biotechnology Research and Development involves the study of coral reef organisms and cellular and biomolecular processes to develop pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Contact Uses, such as biological additions, physical damage, and biological harvesting, are activities in which humans create pressures through direct contact with the ecosystem. Cultural services are the nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, recreational opportunities, aesthetic experiences, sense of place, and educational and research opportunities. Discharges are the intentional or unintentional distribution of chemicals, debris, or other pollution, into the environment as a consequence of human activities. Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems . The Health sector includes groups which provide for human health through medical and social care, and maintenance and disposal of waste. Health care policies are actions taken to change the provisioning, cost, or need for health care services, and may include modifications to health insurance, preventative care, and establishment or management of health care facilities. Health policies are responses that impact the functioning of health sectors, including waste management facilities, biomedical research, and development and sale of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Landscape Changes are alterations of the natural landscape through human activities, including coastal development, shoreline armoring, impervious surfaces, deforestation, or soil disturbance, which can alter water flow patterns and lead to pollutant runoff into coastal systems. The Medical Care subsector of the Health sector includes the manufacturing of medical equipment, the operation of medical centers, biomedical research, and the production and sale of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics industries are engaged in manufacturing drugs, medicines and related products for human or animal use. The Reef Ecosystem includes a suite of abiotic variables that form the physical and chemical environment. Pressures are human activities that create stress on the environment. Provisioning services are the products or ecosystem goods obtained from ecosystems, including seafood, genetic and biochemical resources, pharmaceuticals, ornamental resources, and water resources. The state of the Reef Ecosystem is the condition, in terms of quantity and quality, of the abiotic and biotic components including physical, chemical, and biological variables. Reef Life is the abundance, distribution, and condition of the biological components of the coral reef ecosystem. Regulating Services are benefits obtained from ecosystem processes that regulate the environment, including erosion regulation, natural hazard regulation, and climate regulation. Responses are actions taken by groups or individuals in society and government to prevent, compensate, ameliorate or adapt to changes in Ecosystem Services or their perceived value. The Social Assistance subsector of the Health sector provides social assistance directly to clients at social assistance centers. Socio-Economic Drivers include the sectors that fulfill human needs for Food & Raw Materials, Water, Shelter, Health, Culture, and Security, and the Infrastructure that supports the sectors. Supporting services are ecological processes that indirectly benefit humans by maintaining a functional ecosystem for the production of other ecosystem goods and services.

CMap Description

A change in the provision of ecosystem services, or a desire to improve provision of ecosystem services, may elicit responses to manage the distribution and functioning of health sectors. Ineffective waste management can lead to waste discharges or littering that inputs nutrients, contaminants, and marine debris into the reef environment. Waste management policies can be implemented to regulate, install, or upgrade sewage treatment systems or solid waste disposal. Ordinances can be adopted to mandate clean cities. The pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry creates pressure on the reef environment through harvesting of fish and invertebrates for use in research or products. Biomedical research policies, including funding and patent laws, can influence the demand for biochemicals and the activities of research and development. Health sectors benefit from reef ecosystem services, including provisioning of marine products and natural waste management through nutrient and contaminant processing.

Citations

Citation Year Study Location Study Type Database Topics
Burke, L., K. Reytar, M. Spalding, and A. Perry. 2011. Reefs at Risk Revisited. World Research Institute, Washington, D.C. (USA). 2011 Panama; Tanzania; Indonesia Biomedical Research Policies; Fish; Funding & Donations; Funding & Incentives
Goater, S; Derne, B; Weinstein, P. 2011. Critical Issues in the Development of Health Information Systems in Supporting Environmental Health: A Case Study of Ciguatera. Environmental Health Perspectives 119:585-590. 2011 Global; US Pacific & Hawaii Review Climate; Collaboration & Partnering; Complex Habitat & Resources; Fish; Health Policies; Pathogens; Surface & Groundwater Flow
Beharry-Borg, N. and R. Scarpa. 2010. Valuing quality changes in Caribbean coastal waters for heterogeneous beach visitors. Ecological Economics 69:1124-1139. 2010 South & Central America; Tobago; Caribbean Model Banks, Credit, & Securities; Dive, Snorkeling, & Swimming Tourism; Health Policies; Monetary Valuation; Resource Use Management; Tourism & Recreation; Tourism & Recreation Policies; Valuation
Harrison, P. A., M. Vandewalle, M. T. Sykes, P. M. Berry, R. Bugter, F. de Bello, C. K. Feld, U. Grandin, R. Harrington, J. R. Haslett, R. H. G. Jongman, G. W. Luck, P. M. da Silva, M. Moora, J. Settele, J. P. Sousa, and M. Zobel. 2010. Identifying and prioritising services in European terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Biodiversity and Conservation 19:2791-2821. 2010 Europe Review Agriculture; Biochemical & Genetic Resources; Biomedical Research Policies; Climate; Climate Regulation; Cultural Policies; Cultural Services; Existence Value & Sense of Place; Fishing Sector; Forestry; Non-Monetary Valuation; Pathogens; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Provisioning Services; Recreational Opportunities; Regulating Services; Seawater Flow; Special Use Permitting; Surface & Groundwater Flow; Tourism & Recreation; Tourism & Recreation Policies; Wetlands
Hunt, M. E., M. P. Scherrer, F. D. Ferrari, and M. V. Matz. 2010. Very Bright Green Fluorescent Proteins from the Pontellid Copepod Pontella mimocerami. PLoS One 5:e11517. 2010 Decision Support Frameworks & Tools Biomedical Research Policies; Microorganisms; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Bonkosky, M., E. A. Hernandez-Delgado, B. Sandoz, I. E. Robledo, J. Norat-Ramirez, and H. Mattei. 2009. Detection of spatial fluctuations of non-point source fecal pollution in coral reef surrounding waters in southwestern Puerto Rico using PCR-based assays. Marine Pollution Bulletin 58:45-54. 2009 Puerto Rico Fishing Sector; Health Policies; Non-point Source Runoff; Point Source Discharges; Special Use Permitting; Tourism & Recreation
Check, W. 2009. DNA sequencing grows virtuosic - And deep. Microbe 4:18-22. 2009 Biomedical Research Policies; Microorganisms; Pathogens; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Lin, M. Z., M. R. McKeown, H. L. Ng, T. A. Aguilera, N. C. Shaner, R. E. Campbell, S. R. Adams, L. A. Gross, W. Ma, T. Alber, and R. Y. Tsien. 2009. Autofluorescent Proteins with Excitation in the Optical Window for Intravital Imaging in Mammals. Chemistry & Biology 16:1169-1179. 2009 Decision Support Frameworks & Tools Biomedical Research Policies; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Schlesinger, A., E. Kramarsky-Winter, and Y. Loya. 2009. Active Nematocyst Isolation Via Nudibranchs. Marine Biotechnology 11:441-444. 2009 Decision Support Frameworks & Tools Anemones & Zooanthids; Biomedical Research Policies; Discharges; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Balmford, A., A. S. L. Rodrigues, M. Walpole, P. ten Brink, M. Kettunen, L. Braat, and R. de Groot. 2008. The economics of biodiversity and ecosystems: scoping the science. European Commission, Cambridge, UK. 2008 Global Review; GIS & Maps Aquaculture; Biological Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Biomedical Research Policies; Climate; Fishing Sector; Forestry; Monetary Valuation
Nassiri, N. 2007. Industry news: Biocoral wins French patent after three years. Pages 7-Jun Biomedical Materials. 2007 France Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Martin, C., H. G. Deters, and T. W. Nattkemper. 2006. Fusing biomedical multi-modal data for exploratory data analysis. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) 798-807. 2006 GIS & Maps Biomedical Research Policies; Collaboration & Partnering; Fish; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Morgan, S. K. and S. A. Lourie. 2006. Threatened fishes of the world: Hippocampus comes cantor 1850 (Syngnathidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 75:311-313. 2006 Global; Thailand; Malaysia; Vietnam; Indonesia; Philippines Field Study & Monitoring; Decision Support Frameworks & Tools Accidental & Illegal Harvest; Aquarium & Pet Trade; Biomedical Research Policies; Climate; Collaboration & Partnering; Complex Habitat & Resources; Finfish Harvest; Fishing Sector; Lobster, Crab, & Shrimp; Marine Protected Areas; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Seagrasses; Sponges; Stony Coral; Substrate
Reed, J. K., D. C. Weaver, and S. A. Pomponi. 2006. Habitat and fauna of deep-water Lophelia pertusa coral reefs off the southeastern U.S.: Blake Plateau, Straits of Florida, and Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine Science 78:343-375. 2006 South & Central America; Florida; US East Coast (NC, SC, GA); Mexico GIS & Maps Biomedical Research Policies; Fish; Fishing Sector; Marine Protected Areas; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources; Pipelines; Trawling & Fishing Gear Damage
Shrestha, S. and S. K. Deo. 2006. Anthozoa red fluorescent protein in biosensing. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 386:515-524. 2006 Biomedical Research Policies; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. 2005. Contaminated Sediment Remediation Guidance for Hazardous Waste Sites. EPA-540-R-05-012, US Environmental Protection Agency. 2005 India Review; Field Study & Monitoring; Lab Study; Model Biological Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Dredging Regulations; Dredging, Draining, & Filling; Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Finfish Harvest; Fish; Health Policies; Infrastructural Policies; Infrastructure; Landscape Conservation & Restoration; Remediation; Security Policies; Sediment; Shoreline Protection; Solid Waste Disposal; Surface & Groundwater Flow; Tourism & Recreation; Tourism & Recreation Policies; Waste Management Policies
Tibbetts, J. 2004. The state of the oceans, part 2: delving deeper into the sea's bounty. Environmental Health Perspectives 112:A472-481. 2004 Global Index or Indicator Agriculture; Biomedical Research Policies; Climate; Finfish Harvest; Non-point Source Runoff; Nutrients; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
Firn, R. D. 2003. Bioprospecting - why is it so unrewarding? Biodiversity and Conservation 12:207-216. 2003 Columbia Funding & Donations; Funding & Incentives; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources; Surface & Groundwater Flow
Debrot, A. O. and J. Sybesma. 2000. The Dutch Antilles. Seas at the millennium - an environmental evaluation - Volume 1 595-614. 2000 South & Central America; Antilles; Caribbean GIS & Maps Coastal Development; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Finfish Harvest; Health Policies; Infrastructural Policies; Littering; Mangroves; Nutrients; Seagrasses; Solid Waste Disposal; Storms & Hurricanes; Tourism & Recreation; Waterborne Discharges
Karalis, T., L. Gupta, M. Chu, B. A. Campbell, M. F. Capra, and P. A. Maywood. 2000. Three clusters of ciguatera poisoning: Clinical manifestations and public health implications. Medical Journal of Australia 172:160-162. 2000 Fish; Health Policies; Special Use Permitting
Fontaine, M. 1997. Ethics, bioethics and medical sciences [ethique, bioethique(s) et sciences medicales]. Bulletin de l'Academie Nationale de Medecine 181:1477-1486. 1997 Health Policies; Landscape Conservation & Restoration; Special Use Permitting
White, E. W. 1997. Biomaterials innovation: It's a long road to the operating room. Materials Research Innovations 1:57-63. 1997 Review Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources
World Resource Institute International Marinelife Alliance, editor. 1997. Sullied Seas. WRI, Washington D.C. 1997 Global; Tanzania; Maldives; Fiji; Papua New Guinea; Southeast Asia; Vietnam; Indonesia; Philippines; Germany Lab Study; GIS & Maps Apex Fish Predators; Aquarium & Pet Trade; Aquarium Stock; Banks, Credit, & Securities; Coastal Development; Collaboration & Partnering; Finfish Harvest; Fishing Sector; Health Policies; Live Collection; Mangroves; Non-point Source Runoff; Trawling & Fishing Gear Damage
Principe, P. P. 1996. Monetizing the pharmacological benefits of plants. Pages 192-218 in Balick, M. J., E. Elisabetsky, and S. A. Laird, editors. Medicinal resources of the tropical forest: biodiversity and its importance to human health. 1996 Biomedical Research Policies; Health Policies; Valuation

Management Options

Management Option Description Sources Database Topics
Corporate Response: Invest & Co-finance Projects Investing and co-financing projects that aim to conserve or restore habitats can be an effective means to preserving reef habitats as well as establishing positive working relationships between organizations. Investing in private sector projects will promote desired businesses and business practices, reducing barriers to entry and competitiveness as compared to traditional businesses and business practices to counterbalance advantages from undesired externalities. World Bank Group. 2008. Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Adaptation. Nature based solutions from the world bank portfolio. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Washington, DC.

Aquarium Stock; Banks, Credit, & Securities; Biochemical & Genetic Resources; Biomedical Research Policies; Collaboration & Partnering; Corporate Responses; Economic Markets & Policies; Finance & Insurance; Finfish & Shellfish Stock; Food & Raw Materials; Funding & Donations; Funding & Incentives; Manufacturing & Trade; Manufacturing & Trade Policies; Marine Products; Ornamental Jewelry & Art; Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Sources; Provisioning Services; Resource Use Management; Tourism & Recreation
Injury Prevention: Minimize or Eliminate Impact from , Derelict or Sunken Vessels This option intends to reduce the effects of vessel impacts through creating mooring fields, pump-out stations, and providing support for removing derelict vessels. Actions such as these are important for reducing contact and waste impacts from live-aboard vessels. Also, the removal of intrusive vessels will help contribute to the restoration of reef areas to previous conditions. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

Anchoring & Vessel Grounding; Biological Monitoring & Restoration; Boating Activities; Contact Uses; Dredging Regulations; Ecosystem Monitoring & Restoration; Health Policies; Infrastructural Policies; Physical Damage; Pressures; Resource Use Management; Responses; Transportation Policies; Waste Management Policies; Wetland & Reef Restoration
Marine Zoning: Special Use Areas Special use areas are set aside for specific scientific or educational purposes. This is in order to encourage the recovery or restoration of injured or degraded resources. Also, the areas may be designated to facilitate access to, or use of, resources, and prevent other user conflicts. Special-use areas are achieved through a variety of methods such as: placing/maintaining buoys along zone boundaries; adjusting boundaries if necessary; evaluating allowable activities within zone boundaries; identifying potential areas that need additional zoning; reviewing the effectiveness of the zoning; and revising NOAA and GIS charts; and determining/establishing appropriate zones for high-impact or user-conflict activities. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

Biological Addition; Biological Harvest; Biological Monitoring & Restoration; Biological Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Biomedical Research Policies; Complex Habitat & Resources; Contact Uses; Cultural Services; Decision Support; Designated Uses; Ecosystem Monitoring & Restoration; Education & Information; Educational & Research Opportunities; Environmental Education & Outreach; Environmental Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Health Policies; Marine Protected Areas; Permitting & Zoning; Physical Damage; Provisioning Services; Resource Use Management; Scientific Research; Social Organizations; Special Use Permitting; Supporting Services; Wetland & Reef Restoration
Monitor & Research: Develop Scientific Research Study Program Management areas can encourage scientific studies by coordinating efforts of research groups and institutions. Collaboration and integration of these scientific studies can be beneficial to both the research groups and the management area. For example, data from monitoring of restoration projects could be analyzed by an academic institution, helping to reduce the burden on funds and perhaps using data in ways outside the scope of management objectives. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

Biological Monitoring & Restoration; Biological Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Biomedical Research Policies; Collaboration & Partnering; Cultural Policies; Cultural Services; Decision Support; Ecosystem Monitoring & Restoration; Ecosystem Services; Education & Information; Educational & Research Opportunities; Environmental Education & Outreach; Environmental Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Resource Use Management; Schools & Colleges; Scientific Research; Security & Public Administration Policies; Special Use Permitting
Restoration: Environmental Remediation Environmental Remediation is a type of restoration that's focus ranges from Brownfields to Oil Spills to Hazardous Waste Sites. These restoration activities aim to restore the site to a previous condition, or to a condition that is not a threat to human health or other forms of life. Several standards can be used to determine when remediation is necessary and to what extent the environment should be restores. Biocriteria can be used to determine the degree of degradation to biological components of the site. Often it is the presence of a particular pollutant in the soil, water or air, which is above acceptable limits and will not degrade fast enough over a short period of time and therefore must be removed. Physical and chemical water quality criteria can be used to set maximum acceptable limits of water quality parameters. Air quality criteria can be used to set acceptable maximum and minimum air standards for remediation. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. 2005. Contaminated Sediment Remediation Guidance for Hazardous Waste Sites. EPA-540-R-05-012, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Environment Protection Authority. EPA Guidelines for Environmental management of on-site remediation. Environment Protection Authority, Adelaide, Australia.

Applied Chemicals; Biocriteria; City Planning; Decision Support; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Ecosystem Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Food, Beverage, & Tobacco Products; Health; Health Policies; Landuse Management; Littering; Manufacturing & Trade; Metals, Electronics, & Machinery Products; Military; Mining; Mining Policies; Mitigation; Monetary Valuation; Nutrient & Contaminant Processing; Oil & Gas Industry; Oil & Gas Rigs; Oil & Gas Tankers; Petroleum Spills; Physical & Chemical Water Quality Criteria; Pipelines; Point Source Discharges; Public Administration; Remediation; Security; Solid Waste Disposal; Supporting Services; Toxics; Valuation; Waste Management; Waste Management Policies; Wastewater Discharge; Waterborne Discharges; Wood, Plastics, & Chemical Products
Wastewater Pollutants Impacts: Wastewater Pollutant Monitoring and Impact Studies Potential approaches to this management option include experimental studies, eutrophication gradient studies, comparative studies of impacted and non-impacted sites, historical studies, geography comparison, use of biochemical and ecological indicators, use of sewage tracers, and high-frequency and spatially intensive water quality sampling. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

Chemical Variables; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Drinking Water Supply; Ecosystem Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Health Policies; Infrastructure; Non-point Source Controls; Nutrients; Physical & Chemical Environment; Physical & Chemical Water Quality Criteria; Point & Mobile Source Controls; Point Source Discharges; Pressures; Public Administration; Responses; Sectors Filling Human Needs; Security; Socio-Economic Drivers; Utilities; Waste Management Policies; Wastewater Discharge; Water; Waterborne Discharges
Water Quality Management: Reduce Pollution & Discharges from Marinas & Live-Aboards This management option strives to reduce and eliminate the discharge of wastewater and pollution within zones near corals. In many instances, "no-discharge" zones already exist and are simply poorly enforced. In other instances the discharge limits are not stringent enough. Successful regulation requires marinas to be equipped with the proper infrastructure to support transfer of wastewater from vessels to shore-side for treatment. This infrastructure includes: pump-out facilities and mobile pump-out services. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

Biological Addition; Boating Activities; Boating Regulations; Coastal Engineering; Cyanobacteria; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Docks & Marinas; Health; Health Policies; Marine Debris; Microorganisms; Nutrient & Contaminant Processing; Nutrients; Pathogens; Physical Damage; Point & Mobile Source Controls; Point Source Discharges; Ports & Harbors; Resource Use Management; Sewage Treatment; Solid Waste Disposal; Waste Management; Waste Management Policies; Wastewater Discharge; Waterborne Discharges
Water Quality Management: Pet Waste Cleanup Ordinance & Education In residential areas, pet waste can contributes to the large amount of nutrients and pathogens that enter the water through stormwater runoff. This is especially useful in regions such as Gu�nica, Puerto Rico where there are a lot of stray dogs. Education for pet-owners and possible ordinance would help decrease harmful pathogens reaching corals through stormwater runoff and reduce eutrophication. Center for Watershed Protection. 2008. Guanica Bay watershed management plan.

Natural Resources Conservation Service. Animal Waste Collection. Urban BMP's - Water Runoff Management Accessed 3/18/2011.

Clary, J., Leisenring, M., and Jeray, J. 2010. International Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database. Pollutant Category Summary: Fecal Indicator Bacteria. Wright Water Engineers.

Aquarium & Pet Trade; Biological Addition; Chemical Variables; Cultural Policies; Cultural Services; Culture; Cyanobacteria; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Domestic Animal Waste; Environmental Education & Outreach; Health; Health Policies; Invasive Species; Landscaping & Household Services; Microorganisms; Nutrients; Pathogens; Shelter; Solid Waste Disposal; Stormwater Management; Waste Management; Waste Management Policies; Water; Water Resources; Water Utilities Policies; Waterborne Discharges
Water Quality Management: Landfill & Solid Waste Disposal Site Assessment Strategy This option seeks to reduce/eliminate pollution from leaching at landfill sites. High risk, old landfill sites that may have hazardous waste must be identified. Once identified, monitoring at these landfills should be intensified to insure leaching does not occur into marine systems. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

Chemical Variables; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Ecosystem Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Health; Health Policies; Littering; Nutrient & Contaminant Processing; Nutrients; Point & Mobile Source Controls; Public Administration; Remediation; Security; Security & Public Administration Policies; Solid Waste Disposal; Toxics; Utilities; Waste Management; Waste Management Policies
Water Quality Plans: Resource Monitoring of Surface Discharges This strategy will identify the impacts of point-source discharges by requiring all National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System dischargers to develop monitoring programs. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

Decision Support; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Ecosystem Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring & Restoration; Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, & Scientific Research; Health; Health Policies; Infrastructure; Physical & Chemical Environment; Point & Mobile Source Controls; Point Source Discharges; Pressures; Public Administration; Responses; Sectors Filling Human Needs; Security; Security & Public Administration Policies; Socio-Economic Drivers; Utilities; Waste Management; Waste Management Policies; Waterborne Discharges
Water Quality Plans: Reducing Pollution Discharges from Marinas and Live-Aboards This plan strives to reduced pollution discharges through more strictly enforcing already-existing regulations for discharging. This includes enforcing regulations that restrict boaters from releasing sewage into state waters and requiring connecting toilets to shore-side plumbing. Also, this entails enforcing "no-discharge" zones where live-aboard vessels congregate or where there is history of violation issues with sewage release. The third component to this plan would be to develop and education plan to educate boaters on how/why to reduce pollution from their vessels. NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program. 2007. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary revised management plan. National Ocean Service, Key West, FL.

US EPA. 2011. Vessel General Permit Fact Sheet.

2005. Brightwork: Best Management Practices Manual for Maine's Boatyards and Marinas.

Biological Addition; Contact Uses; Cultural Policies; Culture; Discharge Limitations; Discharges; Entertainment & Accommodation Services; Environmental Education & Outreach; Fishing Sector; Food & Raw Materials; Health; Health Policies; Infrastructure; Point & Mobile Source Controls; Point Source Discharges; Pressures; Recreational Fishing; Resource Use Management; Responses; Sectors Filling Human Needs; Sewage Treatment; Socio-Economic Drivers; Tourism & Recreation; Utilities; Waste Management; Waste Management Policies; Wastewater Discharge; Waterborne Discharges

Laws

Legal Citation Purpose of Law Management Organization Database Topics
Chapter 7: Water pollution control, 12 Virgin Islands Code. In coordination with EPA through Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, establishes controls for the discharge of wastewater and other pollutants to waters of the USVI, sets water quality standards. The Commissioner sets water quality standards applicable to he United States Virgin Islands to protect the public health and welfare and the present and future usa of such waters for public water supplies, propagation of fish, aquatic life and wildlife , recreational purposes and other legitamate uses. The standards are to be reviewed every three years.

Application to Coral Reefs:Water of polluted quality is detrimental to propagation and survival of coral reef organisms. Setting appropriate water quality standards will play a major role in protecting coral reefs.

Legislative Actions:The Commissioner or any USVI resident can commence a civil action. Civil penalties for violators are not to exceed $50,000 per day. Any knowingly or negligently discharging polluants can be crimimnally punished with a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $75,000 per day of violation. A second conviction can be punishable up to a fine of $100,000, six years in jail, or both.

Comments: 		US Virgin Islands, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Protection

Jurisdiction:
US Virgin Islands 		Biocriteria; Discharges; Health Policies; Nutrient & Contaminant Processing; Physical & Chemical Water Quality Criteria; Point & Mobile Source Controls; Point Source Discharges; Reef Life; Resource Use Management; Sewage Treatment; Waste Management Policies
Total maximum daily loads, 62-304 Florida Administrative Code Annotated (2006). The Chapter establishes Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), and their allocations, for waters that have been verified to be impaired by a pollutant pursuant to Chapter 62-303. F.A.C.

Application to Coral Reefs:By regulating the amount of pollutants that will be allowed to be discharged into major waterbodies of the state, the amount of pollutants reaching estuarine and then marine environments, and eventually coral reefs, will assist in protecting the reefs and other habitats.

Legislative Actions:The planning list of impaired water bodies has been completed. Data on each water bodies has been collected. DEP is in the process of calculating TMDLs for each water body.

Comments: 		Florida Department of Envitonmental Protection

Jurisdiction:
United States; State Coastal Waters 		Agriculture, Aquaculture, & Forestry Policies; Aquaculture; Ballast Discharge; Biomedical Research Policies; Coastal Development; Deforestation & Devegetation; Ditching & Soil Disturbance; Dredging Regulations; Finfish & Shellfish Stock; Impervious Surfaces; Irrigation; Landuse Management; Metals, Electronics, & Machinery Products; Nutrient & Contaminant Processing; Nutrients; Physical & Chemical Water Quality Criteria; Point Source Discharges; Resource Use Management; Sediment; Sewage Treatment; Shoreline Armoring; Solid Waste Disposal; Waste Management Policies; Wastewater Discharge; Wetland & Reef Restoration; Wood, Plastics, & Chemical Products

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