H. Res. 415

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

July 11, 2000.

Whereas the oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface

and are key to the life support systems for all creatures

on this planet;

Whereas the oceans contain a wondrous abundance and diversity of life, from the smallest microorganism to the mammoth blue whale;

Whereas two-thirds of the world’s people live within 50 miles

of a coast and one out of six American jobs are in fishing, shipping, or tourism;

Whereas the oceans provide almost limitless opportunities for

exploration and discovery, and could supply a key source

of life-saving medicines and treatments;

Whereas oceanography has contributed to an understanding

of global climate change and the effects of the ocean on

climate and weather, which inevitably has an impact on

safety and quality of life;

Whereas efforts are underway to develop a new ocean monitoring system that will give us a better understanding of

the critical relationship between oceans and global climate change;

Whereas a deepened understanding of the seas will enable us

to track marine mammals, predict deadly storms such as
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those associated with El Nin ̃o, detect illegal fishing, and

gain new insights into the complexities of climate change;

Whereas the oceans and coastal areas supply vital sources of

food upon which people depend and that could be deteriorated by poor stewardship;

Whereas decades of pollution from industrial waste, sewage,

and toxic runoff have taken their toll on the health of the

oceans and on the marine life in them;

Whereas recent studies suggest that nearly 60 percent of the

world’s coral reefs, the ‘‘rainforests of the sea’’, are being

degraded or destroyed by human activities and 10 percent of the reefs may already be degraded beyond recovery;

Whereas fisheries and the food and products they produce are

essential to the world’s economy and steps should be

taken to ensure that they do not become overexploited;

Whereas in the 21st century, people will look increasingly to

the oceans to meet their everyday needs;

Whereas the oceans’ resources are limited, and nations must

work together to conserve them;

Whereas the oceans are the core of our own humanity, a

treasure shared by all nations of the world, and our stewardship of this resource is our responsibility to our children, grandchildren, and all of Earth’s inhabitants;

Whereas June 8th was declared Oceans Day at the Earth

Summit Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and similar declarations have been made by individual nations;

Whereas the State of Hawaii has designated the first

Wednesday of June as Ocean Day, in recognition of the

very significant role the ocean plays in the lives of Ha-
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waii’s people, as well as Hawaii’s culture, history, and

traditions; and

Whereas the establishment of a National Ocean Day will

raise awareness of the vital role oceans play in human life

and that human beings must play in the life of the ocean:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Ocean Day should be established to

recognize the significant role the ocean plays in the lives of

the Nation’s people, and the important role the Nation’s people must play in the continued life of the ocean.

Attest:

Clerk.