THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
| For
Immediate Release |
May
26 , 2000 |
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE 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 Islands' 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, 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 administra-tive
process to that end. Specifically, I direct you, working coopera-tively
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 sustain-able 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.
