[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 87 Introduced in House (IH)]







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 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
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the United States and the United Nations, through the International 
Coral Reef Initiative, should--
            (1) work with international organizations, foreign 
        governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the private 
        sector, to identify, and eliminate or modify, unsustainable 
        fisheries or other practices that are harmful to coral reefs 
        and human health, including--
                    (A) the use of poisons, surfactants, and 
                explosives;
                    (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 resources 
        worldwide, consistent with Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations 
        Conference on the Environment and Development, the Food and 
        Agriculture Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible 
        Fisheries adopted in October 1995, and the International Coral 
        Reef Initiative Call to Action and Framework for Action.
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