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| Northwest Hawaiian Islands Marine Sanctuary | |
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Issue: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Fish and Wildlife Service are developing regulations to implement a Bush Administration Proclamation to establish a National Monument in the NW HI Islands. Rock the Earth and local conservation groups are monitoring the situation to ensure that the regulations drafted provide the greatest protection to this remarkable marine resource. Background: The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are a network of coral reefs, islands, atolls and shoals that arches through the Pacific Ocean for 1,200 miles northwest of the Main Hawaiian Islands. These prehistoric landmasses are the oldest parts of the Hawaiian archipelago. Celebrated in stories of creation as the place where Hawai‘i began, these ancient islands are often described as the kupuna, or ancestors, of the Main Hawaiian Islands, and their survival as one of the Earth’s last remaining large-scale coral reef ecosystems is a critical issue for the Pacific region and the entire planet. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands ecosystem contains over 3.5 million acres of some of the world’s oldest living coral colonies and encompasses tremendous biodiversity. More than 7,000 marine species have been recorded in the NWHI, among them, the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, endangered and threatened sea turtles, reef fish, bottom fish, sharks, corals, anemones, jellyfish, mollusks, sea grasses, algae and over 14 million sea birds. Since 2000, more than 100 meetings and working group sessions and 30 formal public hearings generated more than 100,000 comments, the vast majority in favor of strong conservation measures for the NWHI. With financial support from Jack Johnson, RtE has begun collaborating with KAHEA, the Hawaiian Environmental Alliance, to protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. On June 15, 2006, the Bush White House announced its intent
to protect these magnificent natural resources using the most
protective measures available under law, by declaring the area
a National Marine Monument under the federal Antiquities Act.
It is a milestone in ocean and cultural rights protection, and
an encouraging response to a long struggle and to consistent
public support. The Monument will be jointly managed by U.S.
Fish and Wildlife and NOAA, and in close consultation and coordination
with the State. WHAT THE PROCLAMATION LANGUAGE PROVIDES • Builds on and augments the existing NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve protections (the Executive Orders, USFW Refuge).• Fully protects access for Native Hawaiian traditional and customary cultural practices, including consuming fish in the Kupuna Islands. • Recreational activity and historic visits are allowed only at Midway Atoll, as approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. • Dumping of waste in Monument waters is prohibited. • Commercial fishing will be phased out over a five year period. In the interim, fishing boats are required to abide by "no dumping" in State and Monument waters, no fishing in protected areas, and fishing caps are maximized at 350,000 lbs. bottomfish and 180,000 lbs. pelagic fish. • All other resource extraction activities are forever banned. • Educational and scientific activities will be limited and "carefully regulated.” • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Fish and Wildlife Service will share management duties in cooperation with the state. USFW has sole jurisdiction over the existing Hawaiian Island Refuge, the Midway Refuge, and the WWII Midway National Monument. • Research will only be allowed if it directly furthers the management or recovery of the Monument. • The Monument will receive a Native Hawaiian name. This process is being overseen by the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group of the NWHI Coral Reef Reserve Advisory Council. On August 29, NOAA and USFW issued regulations implementing the proclamation. We are in the process of reviewing these regulations for consistency with the stringent protections contained within the Proclamation. Meanwhile, the agencies are still in the process of developing the Management Plan to implement the Proclamation and Regulations, which Plan is expected out by the end of 2006 RtE Position: RtE is monitoring the situation closely to ensure that full protections intended by the Presidential Proclamation are being enforced. Of immediate concern are “research” permits being issued pursuant to the new regulations, which permits may allow for activities that are contrary to the Proclamation and which may cause irreparable, detrimental impact to the Monument. RtE and KAHEA, will, if necessary, challenge permits that are inconsistent with the intent of the Proclamation and do not effect the greatest level of protection for the Monument. Links: June 15, 2006 Presidential Proclamation establishing NW HI Islands Marine National Monument August 29, 2006 Regulations implementing the Presidential Proclamation KAHEA - The Hawiian Environmental Alliance
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