U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Looking to stem the threats to our nation’s coral reefs, the Senate Commerce Committee today unanimously approved S. 1580, the Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007, which reauthorizes and strengthens the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and further improves research and management of our nation’s corals.

“The preservation of our coral reef ecosystems is vital to national interests, including the sustainability of our fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), the lead sponsor of the measure. “Coral reef related services and resources are worth billions of dollars each year to the U.S. economy and economies worldwide in the form of food, jobs, pharmaceuticals, and shoreline protection.”

Senator Inouye continued, “Effective management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems is especially critical for the State of Hawaii, which is host to more than 410,000 acres of living reef around the main islands alone.”

Cosponsored by Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and supported by the Bush Administration, the Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act would:

Allow the Secretary to comprehensively address the threat of marine debris to coral reef ecosystems by removing abandoned fishing gear, other discarded objects, and abandoned vessels from coral reef ecosystems.
Authorize the development of a vessel-grounding inventory and identify measures to reduce threats to coral reefs including the acquisition and placement of aids to navigation, moorings, and fixed anchors.
Prohibit damage to coral reefs, while providing specific exemptions for activities such as bona fide research, the use of fishing gear permitted under Federal or state laws, and other activities authorized by Federal or state laws. Similar authority already exists for coral reefs and other natural resources within National Marine Sanctuaries, but no authority exists for coral reefs outside such boundaries.
Extend and strengthen liability and civil and criminal penalties for damage to coral reefs resulting from prohibited activities.
Provide a mechanism to recoup response costs and damages from responsible parties and apply such funds to restoration of coral reefs.
Establish a permitting program for specific activities in coral reef areas including research and conservation projects.
Improve coordination among states and territories to address threats to coral reefs.
Establish an International Coral Reef Conservation Program to address threats to corals in waters outside U.S. jurisdiction of importance to the United States. The bill would authorize $5 million for FY 2008 and $10 million for each of FY 2009 through 2012 for this program.
Authorize appropriations of $34 million for fiscal year (FY) 2008, $36 million for FY 2009, $38 million for FY 2010, and $40 million for each of FY 2011 and FY 2012. The bill would authorize a total of $8 million for FY 2008 and FY 2012 to remain available until expended, for community-based planning grants.

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