CORAL REEFS TO GET PROTECTION At the National Ocean Conference in Monterey, Calif., President Clinton and Vice President Gore launched a series of major initiatives to explore, protect and restore America's vital ocean resources. One of these efforts is dedicated to protecting coral reefs. To strengthen protection of natural coral reefs in U.S. waters, President Clinton signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expand research, preservation and restoration activities. The President is proposing an additional $6 million through 2002 to speed these efforts and complete restoration of 18 damaged reefs in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific. The Year of the Ocean falls on the heels of last year's International Year of the Coral Reef. This initiative builds on the efforts that began last year. For more information on Year of the Ocean: www.yoto98.noaa.gov For more information on the Year of the Coral Reef (97): www/publicaffairs.noaa.gov/coral-reef.html For more information on this initiative, contact Matt Stout at 202-482-6090. CALENDAR EVENTS July 26 - August 1 is Reef Awareness Week. Many community events are planned for the week, including events being sponsored by REEF RELIEF in the Florida Keys. The theme this year is Year of the Ocean. For more information, contact (305) 294-3100.

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