Scientific communities and policy makers alike portray the worldwide degradation of coral reefs as a global issue that requires a policy response. Yet, an international legal regime on coral reefs is not on the global agenda, and no state considers it necessary. The absence of a regime is puzzling given a number of favorable factors that should facilitate the creation of a treaty. Moreover, existing theoretical explanations of international cooperation cannot adequately account for the case. This pioneer study on international coral reef management considers current policy-making activities in conjunction with information provided by multilateral scientific assessments. It offers a modified knowledge-based explanation of the case that relies on the distinction between different types of information. Missing knowledge about the transboundary effects of the problem impedes the formation of common interests and does not easily justify the need for a binding international agreement.
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