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 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 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 organiza-
tions: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), 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, nongovern-
mental 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.