In the Senate of the United States,
October 9, 1997.
Resolved, That the resolution from the House of Rep-
resentatives (H. Con. Res. 8) entitled ‘‘Concurrent resolution
recognizing the significance of maintaining the health and
stability of coral reef ecosystems.’’, do pass with the following
AMENDMENTS:
Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:
That the Congress recognizes the significance of maintain-
ing the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems, by—
(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 as-
sessment of and education on coral reef ecosystems;
(4) improving the coordination of coral reef ef-
forts and activities of Federal agencies, academic in-
HCON 8 EAS
stitutions, nongovernmental organizations, and indus-
try; and
(5) promoting preservation and sustainable use
of coral reef resources worldwide.
Strike out the preamble and insert:
Whereas coral reefs are among the world’s most bio-
logically 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 subsist-
ence, commercial fisheries, and coastal and marine
tourism and are of vital economic importance to coast-
al 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, regenerat-
ing coastal barriers, protecting shorelines and coastal
areas from high waves, storm surges, and accompany-
ing 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, in-
cluding 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
HCON 8 EAS
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 stew-
ardship 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 real-time 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 knowl-
edge; 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, con-
servation, and academic organizations: Now, therefore,
be it
Attest:
Secretary.