Bill Overview
Title: Coral Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes the federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to carry out prize competitions that promote coral reef research and conservation. The prize competitions must be designed to help the United States achieve its goal of developing new and effective ways to advance the understanding, monitoring, and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems. Priority is given to establish programs that address communities, environments, or industries that are in distress due to the decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems.
Sponsors: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Target Audience
Population: people reliant on coral reef ecosystems for food, coastal protection, and tourism
Estimated Size: 12000000
- The health of coral reefs has a global impact on marine biodiversity.
- Approximately 1 billion people globally rely on coral reefs for food, coastal protection, and income from tourism.
- The decline of coral reefs affects food supply and economic stability for these communities.
- Conservation efforts have the potential to support global fisheries and biodiversity.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects those who are directly dependent on coral reef ecosystems and industries reliant on them. This includes people in tourism, fishing, and local businesses in coastal areas like Hawaii and Florida.
- Some individuals in the population may experience no impact because they are not connected to coral reef ecosystems or related industries.
- Since the policy is restricted by a budget, it cannot address all communities at once but instead may need to prioritize those most vulnerable or significant to the economy.
- The impact on Cantril wellbeing scores reflects the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of their quality of life.
- Consideration is given to how the prize-driven research and innovation can either directly or indirectly translate into job security, environmental conservation, and industry resilience.
Simulated Interviews
Marine Biologist (Miami, Florida)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a great initiative as it can bring more attention and funding to coral research, which is much needed.
- I hope it leads to innovative methods that can be applied locally to improve our reefs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Tour operator (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Coral degradation has been bad for business, so I welcome any policy that could reverse this trend.
- Our livelihood is tied to healthy reefs, so sustainable solutions must be found.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Software Developer (Orlando, Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the coral policy doesn't directly affect my job, it's uplifting to see efforts to preserve natural wonders.
- Healthy reefs mean better local ecosystems, which benefits us all in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Fisherman (Key West, Florida)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our catches have decreased because of dying reefs, so any positive change would help.
- I hope the policy brings quick results.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Student (Jacksonville, Florida)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy gives students like me hope for job opportunities in coral research.
- Prize-driven innovation could inspire new career paths.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired (San Diego, California)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm always excited about policies that help preserve underwater life.
- It might not impact my day-to-day life, but it's vital for future generations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Environmental Lawyer (Miami, Florida)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill is an excellent step towards legally binding conservation efforts.
- I believe it can lay a groundwork for future policies and stronger protections.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Resort Manager (Galveston, Texas)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a healthier reef environment could draw more tourists to our resort.
- I'm optimistic about what the increase in research could mean for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Commercial Diver (Charleston, South Carolina)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our work sometimes involves reef restoration, so more funding could mean more projects.
- I'm interested to see how prize competitions innovate in this field.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could open up collaborative opportunities in tech and marine science.
- It's great to see innovation prioritized in environmental policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $30700000, High: $71400000)
Year 3: $52020000 (Low: $31314000, High: $72828000)
Year 5: $53120000 (Low: $31812000, High: $74328000)
Year 10: $53700000 (Low: $32220000, High: $75180000)
Year 100: $54000000 (Low: $32400000, High: $75600000)
Key Considerations
- Coral reef ecosystems hold significant ecological, economic, and cultural value.
- Prize competitions can incentivize groundbreaking research, leading to advancements in conservation techniques.
- The cost of maintaining and promoting such competitions will vary based on scope and number of awards.
- Federal agency participation ensures coordinated efforts in achieving sustainability goals.