WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved $14.780 million for important Hawaii ocean resources and marine research initiatives. These initiatives are included in the Fiscal Year 1999 Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary Appropriations bill.

Inouye requests approved by the Committee include:

Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL)	$3,000,000
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 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.
Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP) and Management	$2,900,000
This funding for PFRP will 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. Of the amount recommended, $400,000 will be used for swordfish research in the Pacific.
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.
Marine Minerals Technology Center	$1,800,000
(Shared with Alaska and Mississippi)
The Marine Minerals Research Center (MMRC), a joint venture project between the University of Hawaii, the University of Mississippi and the University of Alaska will continue its valuable work. Of the $1.8 million, the University of Hawaii will receive $600,000 to examine deep ocean mineral resources, provide training in all facets of marine resources development, and link academia with industry for underwater technology development and environmental protection and remediation. The MMRC is the only government sponsored university research program in the United States that addresses sustainable development of seabed minerals.
Coral Reef Research and Management	$1,230,000
These funds will be used to preserve the health and stability of the coral reef ecosystems through scientific study, research and management. 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 reef ecosystems. Many outstanding scientists have come to the University of Hawaii to study reefs and reef organisms. $230,000 of these funds will be used by the WESPAC for the development of a fisheries management plan, including coral reef essential fish habitat information and geographic information system; review and improvement of data collection systems for coral reef resources and ecosystem conservation and management; and coral reef fishery plan team expenses.
Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery	$1,000,000
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will continue measures 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 at least 60% since the late 1950s. Human disturbances and shark predation have been major factors affecting Hawaiian monk seal populations. Other human threats including direct interactions with commercial fishing operations, depletion of monk seal prey by commercial fishing, entanglement in fishing nets and other debris, pollution from human activities and abandoned equipment, and entrapment in deteriorating bulkheads. Other natural factors impeding population growth include die-offs due to disease or natural biotoxins and attacks on female and juvenile seals by aggressive adult male seals. The NMFS is responsible for the study and management required for the biological recovery of this species.
Hawaii Sustainable Fisheries Development (HFD)	$750,000
These funds will be used to enhance Hawaiian fish stocks through aquaculture research and model development. 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 of 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 waters of the U.S.
Hawaii Stock Enhancement	$500,000
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.
Pacific Community Development Program and Fishery Demonstration Projects	$500,000
Direct grants will be provided to eligible Western Pacific communities to establish fishery demonstration projects that foster and promote traditional indigenous fishing practices.
Hawaiian Sea Turtle Research	$300,000
These funds will be used to continue ongoing efforts to study and manage 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.

The measure will now be considered by the full Senate. It will then face a joint House-Senate Conference and final House and Senate votes before its transmittal to the White House.