[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 8 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        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 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--
        (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.