The Secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources is hereby authorized to take all measures needed for the protection, conservation and management of coral reefs and coral communities throughout the territorial waters of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Secretary shall identify those places designated as reserves, reef recovery and ecologically sensitive areas with buoys or other floating markers; identify those reef formations and coral communities that may be impacted by vessels that have run aground or been anchored and prepare maps identifying coral reef sites. The Secretary shall likewise identify marine grasslands with buoys or other floating markers in order to protect those systems and avoid their being damaged by anchors or propellers.The Department shall prepare a protocol for those vessels that run aground on coral reefs and coral communities. History —July 15, 1999, No. 147, § 4.
Puerto Rico Legal Code