May 8, 2002 News Release

Honolulu – Management of international living resources, preservation of coral reefs, the ocean-climate connection and the delicate balance of tourism and marine conservation are among the key issues marine experts and area officials will discuss at the Hawaii and Pacific Islands Regional Meeting of the presidentially-appointed U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, set for May 13-14, 2002, Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel, 1777 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu.

A press briefing will be held at 2:45 p.m. Monday, May 13, at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel. Click here to view the full agenda.

The Commission’s two-day public meeting will feature presentations by top ocean scientists, island officials, citizens and environmental organizations on the impact of current federal, state and municipal ocean policies on the Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. A session devoted to public comment is set for 4:00 p.m. on May 14.

The Hawaii and Pacific Islands meeting is the fifth of nine stops for the 16-member Commission, which is conducting similar site visits and public meetings in the nation’s coastal regions over the next five months. Based on the information gathered at the public meetings and its in-depth analysis of U.S. coastal policies, the Commission will be compiling recommendations for the development of a comprehensive federal ocean policy to effectively preserve and utilize the world’s oceans and their resources.

The Commission’s findings and recommendations will be presented to Congress and the President in a final report in the spring of 2003. For more information on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy go to: http://oceancommission.gov.


Contacts:

David Roscow
703-276-2772 x21

Kate Naughten
202-309-5476


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