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Meetings will
address coral reef
reserve order

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Star-Bulletin staff

Public meetings will be held next week concerning President Clinton's executive order to establish an 84 million-acre coral reserve around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve is the largest protected area ever created in the United States. The area includes nearly 70 percent of America's coral reefs, or about 3.5 million acres.

Clinton, in making his announcement Monday, called it vital to move quickly on protecting the reefs because they are home to thousands of species of fish and wildlife that can be found only in the region.

A variety of environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club's Hawaii Chapter, have applauded the move.

Other observers, such as the Western Fisheries Management Council, say creating the reserve would unfairly restrict fishing and could affect the availability of Hawaii fish.

Clinton will make a final decision following a 30-day comment period. From there, the Commerce Department would work with an advisory council to establish the actual guidelines and areas covered.

Meeting dates and times are:

Oahu, 6 p.m., Monday, Ala Moana Hotel Garden Lanai
Kona, 6 p.m., Monday, King Kamehameha Hotel
Hilo, 6 p.m., Tuesday, Cooperative Extension Service Conference Room A at 875 Komohana Street
Washington, D.C., 1 p.m., Dec. 13, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4830, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW
Kauai, 6 p.m., Dec. 13, War Memorial Convention Hall, Ballroom B, Lihue
Maui, 6 p.m., Dec. 14, Wailuku Community Center
Molokai, 6 p.m., Dec. 15, Mitchell Pauole Center, Kaunakakai

Comments may be mailed to Roger Griffis, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 6117, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW; Washington D.C., 20230.

They also can be faxed to (301) 713-4306 or emailed to hawaiicomments@noaa.gov.

Additional information, including the language of the order and maps, is available at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Web site: http://www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov