States / Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Coastal Management
The focus is on managing coastal areas to increase resilience, with an emphasis on balancing environmental, economic, and human wellbeing. Mandated by the Coastal Zone Management Act and the Coral Reef Conservation Act, the federal programs designated for this task are the National Coastal Zone Management Program, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, and the Coral Reef Conservation Program. These programs are administered, on the federal side, by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, in partnership with the coastal states.
State Programs
Coastal Zone Management
Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program. Established in 1978, the program started as part of Puerto Rico's land use plan. The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources leads the program through the Coastal Zone and Climate Change Program Office, working closely with the Planning Board. Projects are considered by examining Puerto Rico's social, ecological, and physical aspects, using advanced technology and involving non-governmental organizations and citizens.
Coral Reef Conservation Program
Puerto Rico Coral Reef Conservation Program. Established in 1999, the program was established “for the management, conservation, and protection of coral reefs for the enjoyment and benefit of the people of Puerto Rico” (Act 147 of 1999). Through this program, monitoring and research activities on corals are coordinated, management strategies are developed and implemented, and alliances are promoted to reduce threats and promote the conservation of these ecosystems.
National Estuarine Research Reserves
Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Designated in 1981 and protecting 2,883 acres, this reserve is located on the southern coast of Puerto Rico, between the municipalities of Guayama and Salinas. The reserve encompasses parts of Mar Negro and Cayos Caribe, a linear formation of 15 tear-shaped, reef-fringed mangrove islands extending westward from the southern tip of the mouth of Jobos Bay. Jobos Bay supports extensive healthy seagrass beds. This reserve also includes extensive upland dry forests and lagoons, and is commercially important for marine recreation, commercial and recreational fishing, and ecotourism. (See handout)
Impact Stories
Stories that showcase the recent work of this state's coastal management efforts.
- Improving our Coasts with High-Resolution Land Cover Data
- Mangrove, Seagrass, and Coral Restoration in the Vieques Bioluminescent Bay Natural Reserve
- Wade into Estuary Recreation at a Research Reserve
- NOAA Strengthens Resilience Before, During, and After Disasters
- Blue Carbon Enterprises Lessen Climate Change Damage
- NOAA Boosts Coastal Hardiness
- First-Ever Carbon-Offset Initiative by U.S. Pro Football Team
- Exploring Macroalgae as Renewable Energy Source
- Protecting Reefs That Boost Resilience and the Economy
- Expanding Coastal Opportunities for People with Disabilities
Additional Resources
*Fast Fact Sources:
People: American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates
Beaches and Estuaries: Shoreline Mileage of the United States
Employment and Economy:
Marine Economy for the Coastal U.S. States
Marine Economy for the U.S. Territories