Sustainable use of coral reefs, as with any natural resource, begins with the philosophy that the resources are a community's bank account, against which interest can be drawn as long as the principal is protected, and that activities which may impact the health and levels of coral reef resources must be guided by the Precautionary Principle. Achievement of sustainable use is dependent upon a community's:

Understanding that coral reefs are the building blocks of tropical, marine environments and include a variety of inter-related ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrass beds, mud and sand flats, and deep water environs, including the plants, animals and physical associated factors;

Appreciation that coral reefs provide protection from storms, an arena for recreation and tourism, a source for medicines and pharmaceuticals, for marine biodiversity, carbonate sand, and subsistence resources for food, and are intricately linked to tradition, culture and our way of life;

Concern for the effects of population growth, poor land use and coastal construction practices, detrimental fishing practices and over fishing, increased human impacts from tourism, pollution, adverse effects of climate change, military, navigation and other maritime activities and, most important, the cumulative impacts on the resources and our way of life and;

Determination that management regimes are based on local conditions, through partnership efforts of local, state, federal and international governments, and communities, and that each generation shall inherit the full rights and responsibilities to those resources which provide food for our tables, social and traditional cultural opportunities for our families, economic benefits for our communities, and beauty and wonder for our spirit.