[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.