(Washington, DC, March 3, 2005) — Calling for increased sensitivity and a commitment to balance, Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen addressed the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force on Thursday morning. “As the representative of a district which depends heavily upon coral reefs as a key component of our tourism based economy, I fully appreciate the work you are doing and the partnerships you have engaged in with Virgin Islands officials,” she told the gathering. “But on and in our reefs also rests an integral part of our culture, of our traditional way of life and ways of making a living,” she reminded them. Christensen said that the group should also work for ways to reduce the pollution that destroys the reefs. 

The Delegate informed the group of her bill to expand the Virgin Islands territorial limit from 3 to 9 miles, and to include the waters between St. Thomas and St. Croix.  “My purpose in drafting this bill is to allow the territory greater leeway in managing our local resources without having to endure the uneven management practices that are often imposed by the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council,” she said.

Christensen also reported on the recent Resources Committee trip to Brazil, Argentina, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.  “We had an opportunity to look at some of the innovative and creative policies that those countries are utilizing to protect and preserve their fragile and precious natural resources, while engaging their communities in positive and profitable ways,” the Delegate said.

The Delegate commended the Task Force on their work to map and monitor the reefs, research the causes and solutions to reef degradation and implement strategies to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs internationally.