Clinton Creates Vast Hawaiian Coral-Reef Preserve President Clinton continues his trend of using executive order to protect large tracts of land in one fell swoop, this time creating a “Yellowstone of
the sea” protecting an expanse of Hawaii’s pristine
coral reefs larger than the states of Florida and Georgia.

“The order would establish the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral
Reef Ecosystem Reserve covering 131,000 square miles along a
1,200 mile-long island chain northwest of the main Hawaiian
islands. The reserve would encompass about 70 percent of U.S.
coral reefs.

The area is the only home to the endangered Hawaiian monk
seal. It provides habitat to other protected species including sea
turtles and birds, and to migratory species such as humpback
whales.” Reuters