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“INTRODUCTION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION LEGISLATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E303-E304 on March 14, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION LEGISLATION
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HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA
of american samoa
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 14, 2000
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I am pleased to rise today with my good friend from New Jersey, the Chairman of the Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee, Mr. Saxton, to introduce bipartisan legislation to authorize a coral reef conservation program.
For many people, coral reefs are distant marine environments that they might never come in contact with unless they are fortunate enough to go on a tropical vacation. For too long now, as a Nation we have enjoyed the biological wealth provided by coral reefs, but failed in our obligations to devote the resources necessary to protect these vital treasures. While these precious ecosystems appeared to be in balance until not long ago, today human activities have significantly altered that balance--much to the detriment of the corals, and much to the demise of people who depend on coral reefs to sustain their communities and economies.
Unlike many other members of Congress, I come from a place where the coral reefs are essential to the very fabric of everyday life. Until recently, those of us from the Pacific islands have literally lived off our reefs and the surrounding local lands. We have recognized for generations that coral reefs form the fundamental building block of an intricate marine food chain, providing nutrients, food and habitats for a tremendous diversity of fish and other marine animals. And intuitively, we have all come to appreciate that without healthy coral reefs, our abundance of marine resources might soon come to a sudden end.
Unfortunately, the sad reality is that we have discovered that the coral reefs we depend on are under numerous threats. These threats come from many sources, including polluted run off, increased siltation, mining, and destructive fishing practices, notably the use of dynamite and cyanide, to name only a few. We have even come to appreciate that the decline in coral health could be linked to global climate change, and events such as El Nino.
But with recognition of the problem, and with increased resources to address it, we can begin to reverse the degradation of our coral reefs and achieve a sustainable balance towards the long-term conservation of these important marine ecosystems. Several recent activities, including the initiation of the International Coral Reef Initiative, the development of U.S. Coral Reef Initiative and the International Year of the Coral Reef, were all good beginnings. And just last week, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force published a national action plan to conserve coral reefs. It is vital that we continue this positive momentum.
As the Senior Democrat on the Subcommittee on Fishery Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, I have enjoyed working collaboratively with Chairman Saxton and his able staff to address my concerns and issues raised by other Democrats in order to develop this consensus legislation.
The legislation we introduce today addresses many of the priorities I consider essential to any comprehensive coral reef conservation bill. Perhaps most significant, the legislation would codify the Coral Reef Task Force established under Executive Order 13089 to give this panel the authority it needs to address the myriad of problems confronting coral reefs today.
Importantly, this legislation would require the Task Force to initiate fundamental baseline research and management activities, most notably, the mapping of all coral reef resources in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The bill would provide to the Task Force, through a National Program coordinated by the Department of Commerce, up to $5 million per year for 4 years to initiate this and other baseline activities, especially the development of comprehensive coral reef monitoring and assessment programs. It is expected that scientists and resource managers will gain from this previously unavailable information new insights regarding how human activities and other environmental factors are contributing to the degradation of coral reef ecosystems, and optimistically, how this degradation might be reversed. To ensure the continued comment from a broad range of interests involved in the management of coral reefs, it is anticipated that those Regional Fishery Management Councils established under the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act which have corals within their jurisdiction, would be involved.
Of equal significance, this legislation would also authorize a coral reef conservation grant program to assist States and local communities in the protection, conservation and sustainable use of their coral reef resources. The bill would provide up to $10 million per year for 4 years for coral reef conservation grants and it is expected that these grants will help improve local capabilities, raise local public awareness, and promote the long-term conservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems. I am also pleased that this legislation would ensure the equitable distribution of grant funds to applicants in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean Sea.
Allow me to close by simply saying that while this bill is not perfect, it is a fair and honorable compromise. The bill would establish a targeted, focused and locally-driven coral reef conservation program; importantly, a program grounded in science and built upon the ground-breaking and successful work of the Coral Reef Task Force. I commend Chairman Saxton for his leadership and commitment to coral reef protection, and I thank my Democratic colleagues on the Fisheries Subcommittee who have worked with me throughout these negotiations.
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