H. Con. Res. 8 Agreed to October 21, 1997

One Hundred Fifth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven

Concurrent Resolution

Recognizing the significance of maintaining the health and stability of coral reef

ecosystems.

Whereas coral reefs are among the world’s most biologically diverse

and productive marine habitats, and are often described as the

tropical rain forest of the oceans;

Whereas healthy coral reefs provide the basis for subsistence,

commercial fisheries, and coastal and marine tourism and are

of vital economic importance to coastal States and territories

of the United States including Florida, Hawaii, Georgia, Texas,

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

Whereas healthy coral reefs function as natural, regenerating

coastal barriers, protecting shorelines and coastal areas from

high waves, storm surges, and accompanying losses of human

life and property;

Whereas the scientific community has long established that coral

reefs are subject to a wide range of natural and anthropogenic

threats;

Whereas a wide variety of destructive fishing practices, including

the use of cyanide, other poisons, surfactants, and explosives,

are contributing to the global decline of coral reef ecosystems;

Whereas the United States has taken measures to protect national

coral reef resources through the designation and management

of several marine protected areas, containing reefs of the Flower

Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys in south

Florida, and offshore Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,

and American Samoa;

Whereas the United States, acting through its agencies, has

established itself as a global leader in coral reef stewardship

by launching the International Coral Reef Initiative and by

maintaining professional networks for the purposes of sharing

knowledge and information on coral reefs, furnishing near realtime data collected at coral reef sites, providing a repository

for historical data relating to coral reefs, and making substantial

contributions to the general fund of coral reef knowledge; and

Whereas 1997 has been declared the ‘‘International Year of the

Reef ’’ by the coral reef research community and over 40 national

and international scientific, conservation, and academic organizations: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress recognizes the significance of maintaining

the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems by—
H. Con. Res. 8—2

(1) promoting comprehensive stewardship for coral reef

ecosystems;

(2) discouraging unsustainable fisheries or other practices

that are harmful to coral reefs and human health;

(3) encouraging research, monitoring, and assessment of

and education on coral reef ecosystems;

(4) improving the coordination of coral reef efforts and

activities of Federal agencies, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and industry; and

(5) promoting preservation and sustainable use of coral

reef resources worldwide.

Attest:

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate.