IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 87

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States

and the United Nations should condemn coral reef fisheries that are

harmful to coral reef ecosystems and promote the development of sustainable coral reef fishing practices worldwide.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 10, 1997

Mr. MILLER of California (for himself, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mrs. MALONEY of New York,

Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. STARK, Mr. OWENS, Mr. PORTER, and Mr. EHLERS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee

on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that

the United States and the United Nations should condemn coral reef fisheries that are harmful to coral reef

ecosystems and promote the development of sustainable

coral reef fishing practices worldwide.

Whereas coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse

and productive ecosystems on Earth;

Whereas coral reef ecosystems are invaluable ecologically and

economically, particularly to the inhabitants of tropical
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•HRES 87 IH

island nations, the several States, and territories of the

United States;

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 use of poisons to capture fish for human consumption may pose a substantial threat to the health of

those involved in these fisheries;

Whereas overharvesting of species and destruction of habitat

jeopardize the integrity and balance of coral reef

ecosystems;

Whereas the United States is the largest importer of coral

reef fish for the aquarium trade, a large proportion of

which are caught using cyanide; and

Whereas these fishing practices must be stopped to prevent

irreparable harm to the global environment and to the

economies of tropical island nations: Now, therefore, be

it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that the United States and the United Na3 tions, through the International Coral Reef Initiative,

4 should—

5 (1) work with international organizations, for6 eign governments, nongovernmental organizations,

7 and the private sector, to identify, and eliminate or

8 modify, unsustainable fisheries or other practices
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•HRES 87 IH

1 that are harmful to coral reefs and human health,

2 including—

3 (A) the use of poisons, surfactants, and ex4 plosives;

5 (B) the overharvesting and destruction of

6 components of coral reef ecosystems; and

7 (C) the patterns of consumer demand, in

8 the United States and abroad, that drive such

9 practices; and

10 (2) promote the sustainable use of coral reef re11 sources worldwide, consistent with Agenda 21 of the

12 1992 United Nations Conference on the Environ13 ment and Development, the Food and Agriculture

14 Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible Fish15 eries adopted in October 1995, and the International

16 Coral Reef Initiative Call to Action and Framework

17 for Action.

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