    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 26, 2000]
    [Pages 1040-1041]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Protection of United States Coral Reefs in the Northwest
    Hawaiian Islands
    May 26, 2000

    Memorandum for the Secretary of Interior, the Secretary of Commerce

    Subject: Protection of U.S. Coral Reefs in the Northwest Hawaiian
    Islands

        The world's coral reefs--our tropical rain forests of the water--are
    in serious decline. These important and sensitive areas of biodiversity
    warrant special protection. While the United States has only 3 percent
    of the world's coral reefs, nearly 70 percent of U.S. coral reefs are in
    the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Many of the Northwest Hawaiian Island's
    coral, fish, and invertebrate species are unique, and the area is home
    to endangered Hawaiian monk seals and threatened turtles. In 1909,
    President Theodore Roosevelt set aside certain islands and reefs in the
    Northwest Hawaiian Islands for the protection of sea birds. Today, the
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages this area as the Hawaiian Islands
    National Wildlife Refuge.
        In June 1998, I signed an Executive Order for Coral Reef Protection
    (E.O. 13089), which established the Coral Reef Task Force and directed
    all Federal agencies with coral reef-related responsibilities to develop
    a strategy for coral reef protection. States and territories with coral
    reefs were invited to be full partners with the Federal Government in
    preparing an action plan to better protect and preserve the Nation's
    coral reef ecosystems. In March of this year, the Task Force issued the
    National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs. The Plan lays out a
    science-based road map to healthy coral reefs for future generations,
    based on two fundamental strategies: promoting understanding of coral
    reef ecosystems by, for example, conducting comprehensive mapping,
    assessment,

    [[Page 1041]]

    and monitoring of coral reefs; and reducing the adverse impacts of human
    activities by, for example, creating an expanded and strengthened
    network of Federal, State, and territorial coral reef Marine Protected
    Areas, reducing the adverse impact of extractive uses, and reducing
    habitat destruction.
        It is time now to take the Coral Reef Task Force's recommendations
    and implement them to ensure the comprehensive protection of the coral
    reef ecosystem of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands through a coordinated
    effort among the Departments of the Interior and Commerce and the State
    of Hawaii.
        Accordingly, I have determined that it is in the best interest of
    our Nation, and of future generations, to provide strong and lasting
    protection for the coral reef ecosystem of the Northwest Hawaiian
    Islands, and I am directing you to initiate an administrative process to
    that end. Specifically, I direct you, working cooperatively with the
    State of Hawaii and consulting with the Western Pacific Fisheries
    Management Council, to develop recommendations within 90 days for a new,
    coordinated management regime to increase protection of the ecosystem
    and provide for sustainable use. Further, I direct that your
    recommendations address whether appropriate stewardship for the
    submerged lands and waters of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands warrants
    exercise of my authority to extend permanent protection to objects of
    historic or scientific interest or to protect the natural and cultural
    resources of this important area.
        The recommendations should also:
        Review the status and adequacy of all ongoing efforts to
                protect the coral reef ecosystem, including proposed no-take
                ecological reserves and the ongoing work of the Western
                Pacific Fisheries Management Council;
        To the extent permitted by law, ensure that any actions that
                the Departments of the Interior and Commerce authorize,
                fund, or carry out will not degrade the conditions of the
                coral reef ecosystems;
        Identify any further measures necessary to protect cultural
                and historic resources and artifacts;
        Identify any further measures necessary for the protection
                of the ecosystem's threatened and endangered species,
                including the endangered monk seal, sea turtles, and short-
                tailed albatross;
        Establish a framework for scientific research and
                exploration;
        Establish a framework for facilitating recreation and
                tourism in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands consistent with
                the protection and sustainable management of the ecosystem;
        Provide for culturally significant uses of the Northwest
                Hawaiian Islands' marine resources by Native Hawaiians; and
        Address the development of a cooperative framework, in
                consultation with the State of Hawaii and the Western
                Pacific Fisheries Management Council, to ensure that the
                goals set forth above will be implemented in a cooperative
                manner, consistent with existing authorities.
        I also direct that during the 90-day period, the Departments shall
    conduct ``visioning'' sessions, which would provide opportunities for
    public hearing and comment to help shape the final recommendations.
        With this new effort, we are taking strides to fulfill the goal of
    the Coral Reef Task Force to protect our precious coral reefs for the
    benefit of future generations.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this memorandum.