WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $13,123,000 for various ocean resources and marine research initiatives in Hawaii. These initiatives are included in the Fiscal Year 1998 Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary Appropriations Bill.

Inouye requests approved by the Committee include:

Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL)	$3,750,000
The HURL is the nation's only program dedicated to underwater research using advanced technology. The six regional National Undersea Research Program Centers focus their efforts on ocean research to build sustainable fisheries, maintain ecosystem health, utilize non-living resources, and apply advanced underwater technologies. The HURL's unique accomplishments include its work related to the observation platform for the Loihi seamount, an active hotspot volcano southeast of the Island of Hawaii. Loihi is the only readily accessible submarine volcano in the world.
Tsunami Hazard Mitigation	$2,300,000
(Shared with west coast states)
Administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, this program is important to the states of Alaska, California, Hawaii Oregon and Washington to coordinate, develop and implement the tsunami mitigation plan: federal/state activities, deploy tsunami detection buoys, produce tsunami inundation maps, produce tsunami mitigation products and upgrade seismic networks.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Honolulu Fisheries Laboratory	$2,000,000
To continue renovation of its main building and replacement of two annexes. The Laboratory was built in 1952 on land adjacent to the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. The facilities no longer meet scientific and marine resource program needs in terms of the mix of functions to be carried out by NMFS in Hawaii and in terms of access to modern technology for scientific research and communication. The facilities are severely overcrowded, do not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and pose safety and environmental hazards.
Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP)	$1,500,000
To continue Pacific tuna research and management. This program is more important today in light of the increased fishing activity the Pacific Insular Area Fishery Agreements (PIAFA), authorized by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996, are expected to generate. The PFRP was established in 1992 in conjunction with the inclusion of highly migratory species in the Magnuson Act, and is authorized by the Central, Western, South Pacific Fisheries Act. PFRP's mandate is to conduct research on fisheries for highly migratory species in support of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's (WESPAC) efforts to manage these important resources. It is the only U.S. program whose sole responsibility is research on highly migratory species. The PFRP initiated its first project in 1993 and has since initiated 35 projects dealing with all aspects of fisheries for highly migratory species. Demand for seafood products is on the increase and some experts predict that the catch of highly migratory species will double in the next 10 years. The PFRP has also gained global recognition for both quality and breadth of its studies.
Coral Reef Initiative	$1,000,000
To preserve the health and stability of the coral reef ecosystems through scientific study and research. Coral reefs in Hawaii are without a doubt the most extensive in the United States, and those in the leeward chain are the least impacted by human activities. The reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands provide an excellent natural laboratory for the study of coral reefs ecosystems, many outstanding scientists have come to the University of Hawaii to study reefs and reef organisms.
Hawaii Sustainable Fisheries Development (HFD)	$750,000
To enhance Hawaiian fish stocks through aquaculture. Fiscal Year 1998 funds will be used to conduct aquaculture research and model development. A portion of the these funds will be used for the Asian Interchange Program. The goals are to identify the major technological needs of the growing U.S. commercial aquaculture industry and to meet these needs by accessing successful culture systems of the Asian aquaculture industry. The HFD Project provides strategic models or marine finfish aquaculture for hatchery and growout operation and facilities for the United States. The models developed will support enhancement of offshore fisheries and offshore aquaculture activities. All the species selected have a direct economic importance in Hawaii and relate to species found in the coastal of the U.S.
Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery	$550,000
To increase the endangered monk seal population. The Hawaiian monk seal is a highly endangered marine animal found entirely around the Hawaiian Islands. The population, which consists of about 1,500 animals, has declined by 60% since the late 1950s. Monk seal habitat lies within productive bottomfish, lobster, and pelagic fishing grounds, and fisheries interaction and access to food to supply have been issues of concern. The NMFS is responsible for the study and management required for the biological recovery of this species.
Hawaii Stock Management	$500,000
For the development and implementation of aquaculture technology. The goal of the stock enhancement program is to develop and transfer fisheries enhancement technology that will enable the restoration and increased productivity of depleted coastal U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries. The stock enhancement program has successfully developed enhancement technology for marine fish culture, spawning, rearing and genetic maintenance.
Swordfish Research and Management	$400,000
The rapid growth in U.S. longline fisheries for Pacific swordfish raises concerns about potential overfishing and the need for appropriate management safeguards to ensure the health of swordfish stocks in the eastern North Pacific. This is vital to ensure the viability of the Hawaii swordfish industry, which catches 40 to 50 percent of the total harvest in the eastern North Pacific. The status of the swordfish stock in the eastern North Pacific and maximum sustainable yield are unknown. Comprehensive data to assess stock status and fishery impacts are unavailable. Proper management strategies need to be developed to prevent overfishing and thereby ensure the viability of the Hawaii swordfish industry.
Hawaiian Sea Turtle Research	$248,000
To continue the study and management of sea turtles in U.S. Pacific waters. All Pacific turtles are listed under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS is responsible for the study and management required for the biological recovery of this species. Fibropapilloma (fatal tumor disease) has reached an epidemic stage infecting over 50% of green turtles in Kaneohe Bay and other locations in the main Hawaiian Islands.
Maui Pacific Center	$125,000
To promote regional cooperation and effective marine resource conservation and management among island countries in the Central, Western and South Pacific through studies, workshops, and conferences to better plan, develop and manage their fisheries and assure sustainability of their stocks.

The bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration. It will then face a joint House-Senate Conference and final Senate vote before its transmittal to the White House.