November 23, 2009

Thank you Governor deJongh and members of his Cabinet, Congresswoman Donna Christiansen, distinguished members of the consortium of universities that make up the Joint Institute for Caribbean Marine Studies, distinguished members of the Virgin Islands Legislature, Superintendent Tutein, guests, partners and friends.  It is indeed an honor to join all of you today, here in this beautiful setting overlooking Salt River Bay and the Caribbean Sea.

Today marks an important step on a long journey to understand better and to protect one of the world's most beautiful and fragile ecosystems – our coral reefs.

Around the world, coral reefs are under stress from a variety of sources, including climate change, overfishing, damage from boats, and pollution. This is especially true in the Caribbean, where many coral reef ecosystems have faced growing threats to their very survival in the past couple of decades.  In fact, the loss of 80-98% of elkhorn and staghorn coral - two of the major reef building corals in the Caribbean – recently led to these species being listed by NOAA as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  The Virgin Islands has been designated as critical habitat for these corals.

Several weeks ago, I was in Puerto Rico participating in the annual meeting of the Coral Reef Task Force.  With the decades worth of scientific expertise in attendance, along with advocates and others who care deeply about preserving and reviving coral reef ecosystems, no one could walk away from that conference without a clear understanding that coral reefs are under great threats as we begin the 21st Century.  But there's hope for a healthier tomorrow and that's why we're here today.

As Interior's Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas and more importantly as a fellow islander, whose people, like you, have relied on the reefs for recreation, protection, a source of food, and a way to reach back to remind ourselves of our cultural heritage and history, I have a deep concern about the decline of coral reefs.  Like a farmer who has a keen awareness for his crops, islanders are the salt of the sea and intimately in tune with coral reefs and the ocean environment.  Today, we meld the knowledge of generations past with the science for a future committed to preservation and sustainability.  I join you in this cause and will work our partners both in the United States and abroad to conserve these fragile ecosystems through improved monitoring, research, education and on-the-ground conservation.

Scientific research and increased public education and awareness of our coral reefs and marine ecosystems are absolutely essential if we are going to succeed. That is why I am delighted to be here today on behalf of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the Department to present a grant to support the next step in our shared vision – the design of the Salt River Bay Marine Research and Education Center.

For many here, this may be your first or second time to visit the island of St. Croix.  I have travelled to many islands and the clear blue waters of St. Croix rival some of the best places in the world.  It would be hard to find a better place for a premier research center on coral reefs and marine ecosystems than here at Salt River Bay, the former site of NOAA's underwater laboratory, and nearby Farleigh Dickenson University's West Indies Laboratory, both built in the 1970's.  It was from these two world-class laboratories that scientists from around the world conducted many of the seminal studies on coral reef ecosystems.

Although the laboratories were destroyed two decades ago by Hurricane Hugo, their legacy lives on.  The historic data gathered here in the 1970s and 1980s provide a rare and invaluable record to guide future research and management of coral reefs, not only in St Croix but across the region and around the world.

And because of the VI Government's vision in creating the East End Marine Park, along with the Park Service's expansion of Buck Island Reef National Monument, these same reefs are now protected as a natural laboratory for research, education and the enjoyment of future generations.

Like so many successful ventures in conservation, the new research and education center is the result of a strong and effective partnership. I want to recognize and commend the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the University of the Virgin Islands, Rutgers University and the University South Carolina for their support of this project through the Joint Institute for Caribbean Marine Studies.   
Admittedly, I am a new-comer to this effort.  After eleven years on the Hill, I found myself, after three days with the Interior Department, in a National Park Service conference room with Joel Tutein, Bob Roer, Bob Wickland, Jim Morris, Michael Bayer, Laverne Regster, Steve Meinhold, and Karen Koltes of my staff.  All speaking with enthusiasm about this project and looking for support from anyone else who walked in that room.  Former colleagues of mine were there as well, Brian Modeste who is now the Staff Director for the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife – and Allen Stayman and Isaac Edwards from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Though the group's briefing to convince myself and others from the Hill was nearly an hour long, truth be told you had me at the mention of Marine Research and Education Center – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.  And if that were not enough, Congresswoman Donna Christensen – a strong advocate on your behalf for this project – has also been a constant reminder to me – and has helped move this project along with her support and the respect she commands as a senior Member of Congress and of the House Natural Resources Committee.  She also happens to be my former boss as the past chairman of the Insular Affairs Subcommittee – she is a dear friend and mentor of mine and I have admired her leadership and strong voice on behalf of the environment, St. Croix, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Joint Institute for Caribbean Marine Studies has been working with Interior for more than a decade to rebuild a marine center on St. Croix.  Now that we have completed the feasibility study and environmental assessment, the stage is set for us to begin the next phase – designing the facility.

I want to especially commend Governor DeJongh for his continued leadership and vision - creating the first territorial marine park just east of here, and for working with the National Park Service to jointly manage the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve. Along with the consortium of universities, we have developed the perfect partnership for a world-class marine research and education center.  Governor DeJongh's work for this territory is unmistakably one that has moved the U.S. Virgin Islands as a world class place for economic development and now for environmental preservation and research.

The Marine Research and Education Center will serve not only as a hotbed of excellence for scientific research and public education but also as a model "green building," relying on renewable energy such as wind and solar power and minimizing impacts to the sensitive habitats such as the watersheds and adjacent marine areas.

At a time when we are increasingly concerned about the effect of greenhouse gases on climate change and on species such as coral, I am pleased that the new center will be an example of how we can tap into alternative energy and limit emissions.

Salt River Bay also has importance as a place in the history of human exploration. Five hundred sixteen years today, in the year 1493, Christopher Columbus's party came ashore here at Salt River Bay.  It is the only location in what is now U.S. territory that was visited by Columbus's party.  It is also an important archaeological site for the indigenous Tainos (pronounced Tay-ee'-nohs) where many artifacts and archaeological finds have been recovered.

The spirit of exploring our world will continue on here, albeit in a different way. I hope we will be able to say someday that because of the scientific exploration and research that will occur at this center, our fragile coral reefs ecosystems are healthy once again.

And now I have a small surprise.  On all your invitations, it reads that I will be signing a grant in the amount of $1 million dollars to move us forward.  However, in the spirit of this Thanksgiving week, we decided to add a bit of whipped cream on top of this small slice of pumpkin pie.  It is therefore my great pleasure to be able today to present a symbolic check for ONE and a QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS to the partners of the Salt River Bay Marine Research and Education Center.  Combined with earlier grants given by my office, I am pleased to note that Interior's Office of Insular Affairs has now contributed over $2 million toward this initiative.

Congratulations and thank you to all who have worked so hard to bring the dream of once again having a world-class center for marine research and education here at Salt River Bay closer to reality.