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 sustain-
able coral reef fishing practices worldwide.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 10, 1997
Mr. MILLER of California (for himself, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. FRANK of Massachu-
setts, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mrs. MALONEY of New York,
Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. STARK, Mr. OWENS, Mr. POR-
TER, and Mr. EHLERS) submitted the following resolution; which was re-
ferred 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 with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
the United States and the United Nations should con-
demn 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
•HRES 87 IH
island nations, the several States, and territories of the
United States;
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 use of poisons to capture fish for human con-
sumption 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
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the United States and the United Na-
tions, through the International Coral Reef Initiative,
should—
(1) work with international organizations, for-
eign governments, nongovernmental organizations,
and the private sector, to identify, and eliminate or
modify, unsustainable fisheries or other practices
•HRES 87 IH
that are harmful to coral reefs and human health,
including—
(A) the use of poisons, surfactants, and ex-
plosives;
(B) the overharvesting and destruction of
components of coral reef ecosystems; and
(C) the patterns of consumer demand, in
the United States and abroad, that drive such
practices; and
(2) promote the sustainable use of coral reef re-
sources worldwide, consistent with Agenda 21 of the
1992 United Nations Conference on the Environ-
ment and Development, the Food and Agriculture
Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible Fish-
eries adopted in October 1995, and the International
Coral Reef Initiative Call to Action and Framework
for Action.
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