[Senate Report 105-94]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
105th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 105-94
_______________________________________________________________________
Calendar No. 186
CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS
__________
R E P O R T
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
H. CON. RES. 8
September 30, 1997.--Ordered to be printed
_________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1997
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred fifth congress
first session
JOHN McCAIN, Arizona, Chairman
TED STEVENS, Alaska ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, South Carolina
CONRAD BURNS, Montana DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii
SLADE GORTON, Washington WENDELL H. FORD, Kentucky
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas Virginia
OLYMPIA SNOWE, Maine JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
JOHN ASHCROFT, Missouri JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana
BILL FRIST, Tennessee RICHARD H. BRYAN, Nevada
SPENCER ABRAHAM, Michigan BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota
SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas RON WYDEN, Oregon
John Raidt, Staff Director
Ivan A. Schlager, Democratic Chief Counsel and Staff Director
Calendar No. 186
105th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 105-94
_______________________________________________________________________
CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS
_______
September 30, 1997.--Ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
Mr. McCain, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Con. Res. 8]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 8)
``A Concurrent Resolution recognizing the significance of
maintaining the health and stability of coral reef
ecosystems'', having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon with amendments and recommends that the concurrent
resolution (as amended) do pass.
Purpose of the Resolution
The purpose of H. Con. Res. 8 is to express Congressional
commitment to improve stewardship, research, and sustainable
use of coral reefs. The resolution also acknowledges United
States participation in the International Coral Reef Initiative
and recognizes that 1997 has been declared the ``International
Year of the Reef.''
Background and Need for Legislation
Coral reefs are recognized as being among the world's most
productive and biologically diverse habitats. Restricted to
areas with clean, warm water free of excessive sediments, coral
reefs thrive only in limited areas of the oceans. In the United
States, only Florida and Hawaii have well developed coral reefs
in their coastal waters, although coral reefs are associated
with many of the United States territories in the Caribbean and
the Pacific Oceans. Coral communities are found at Gray's Reef
off the Georgia coast and The Flower Garden Banks off of Texas.
Despite their limited distribution, coral reefs provide
substantial economic and environmental benefits. Annually, the
reefs of the Florida Keys attract over 2.5 million visitors and
generate over, $2.9 billion in revenue from recreational
activities like fishing, diving,and boating. This reef-based
tourism generates thousands of job opportunities in Florida alone.
Healthy coral reefs also support a variety of commercial fisheries.
According to figures from the National Marine Fisheries Service, reef-
related commercial fisheries landings in the United States Gulf of
Mexico were valued at $79.5 million in 1995. But tourism and fisheries
are not the only benefits provided by coral reefs. Organisms associated
with reefs are valued by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries for providing compounds with anti-viral and anti-bacterial
properties. Coral reefs can reduce incoming wave energy by up to 97
percent, minimizing the impact of storm surges and protecting shoreline
property and infrastructure.
However, there is growing concern over the worldwide
degradation of coral reefs. While coral reefs can be thousands
of years old, corals grow slowly and are easily damaged.
Threats to coral reefs arise from destructive fishing practices
(including the use of cyanide, other poisons, surfactants, and
explosives), dredging, damage from boat anchors and ship
groundings, and coastal pollution. Scientists estimate that 10
percent of the world's reefs have been degraded beyond
recovery, a number which is expected to rise to 30 percent
within the next 10 to 20 years if present trends continue.
In 1994, representatives from the governments of the United
States, Japan, Australia, France, Jamaica, the Philippines, the
United Kingdom, and Sweden, along with several non-governmental
organizations, multilateral development banks, and U.N.
organizations, formed a partnership known as the International
Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). There are now more than 75
participating governments. This voluntary partnership does not
seek to create any new agencies or funding authorities, rather,
it is working to build cooperation among existing coral reef
research and management programs. Among other initiatives, the
ICRI seeks to encourage the development of national, regional,
and local coral reef initiatives, establish a Global Coral Reef
Monitoring Network through the International Oceanographic
Commission, expand international coral reef research by
building partnerships among nations conducting such research,
and promote coral reef conservation through public education
and outreach. The United States is a leader in ICRI activities,
which are coordinated by the State Department and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Along with the ongoing efforts under ICRI, a group of
scientists and others decided to highlight awareness of the
status of coral reefs by declaring 1997 the ``International
Year of the Reef'' (IYOR), This year-long, world-wide campaign
has hundreds of participants including, in the United States,
the American Zoological Association, American Oceans Campaign,
Center for Marine Conservation, Smithsonian Institution, World
Wildlife Fund, and many other zoos and aquaria, conservation
societies, trade organizations, and academic institutions. H.
Con. Res. 8 reflects the Congress's support for the
conservation of coral reefs, and is intended to coincide with
the IYOR.
Legislative History
H. Con. Res. 8 was received by the Senate from the House of
Representatives on April 24, 1997 and was referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on May 13,
1997. On June 19, 1997, H. Con. Res. 8 was taken up by the
Committee during an open executive session. Senators Inouye,
Snowe, Kerry, Akaka, and Breaux offered amendments to the
preamble and to the resolving clause, and the resolution as
amended was unanimously adopted by voice vote.
Estimated Costs
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 26, 1997.
Hon. John McCain,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
reviewed H. Con. Res. 8, as ordered reported by the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 19,
1997.
CBO estimates that adopting this resolution would have no
effect on the federal budget. The resolution would express
Congressional commitment to promoting stewardship of coral reef
habitats; discouraging practices that are harmful to coral
reefs; encouraging research, monitoring, assessment, and
education about reef ecosystems; improving the coordination of
coral reef activities among public and private institutions;
and promoting preservation and sustainable use of coral reef
resources worldwide. Coral reefs serve as habitats for many
species of marine life and are located in coastal waters off
several states and U.S. territories.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Gary Brown.
This estimate was approved by Paul N. Van de Water, Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Sincerely,
James L. Blum
(For June E. O'Neill, Director).
Regulatory Impact Statement
H. Con. Res. 8 will have no regulatory impact.
Section-by-Section Analysis
preamble
The preamble addresses the benefits provided by coral
reefs, the management actions taken to protect coral reefs, the
International Coral Reef Initiative, and the designation of
1997 as the ``International Year of the Reef.'' Language added
by the Inouye amendment mentions the destructive impacts of
many coral reef fishing practices, including the use of poison
and explosives in fishing operations.
resolving clause
In the resolution, Congress recognizes the significance of
coral reefs and agrees to: (1) promote stewardship of coral
reef ecosystems; (2) discourage practices harmful to coral
reefs; (3) encourage research, monitoring, and education; (4)
improve coordination within and among Federal, academic, non-
governmental, and industrial institutions; and (5) promote
preservation and sustainable use of coral reef resources.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the
resolution as reported would make no change to existing law.