NOAA MOVES TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS In its efforts to maintain strong protections for the nation's largest coral reef, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) begin the process for designating the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve as the nation's 14th national marine sanctuary. Nearly the entire world population of endangered Hawaiian monk seals make their home in this remote island chain. Photo: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is home to 7,000 marine species including the endangered monk seal, threatened green sea turtle, and the endangered leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles. Its waters are one of the most pristine in the world. In December 2000, President Bill Clinton's Executive Order 13178 established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve in response to the serious decline in coral reefs around the world. While the United States has only three percent of the world's coral reefs, approximately 70 percent of them are in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The Executive Order called for a Reserve Operation Plan, which provides a guide for management of the Reserve during a sanctuary designation process. The draft plan, which addresses priority issues such as marine debris, cultural resources, and enforcement, is now available for public review and comment for sixty days. The final plan is expected shortly thereafter. "The National Marine Sanctuaries are our nation's best vehicles for marine protection, in terms of ecosystem management, research, education and enforcement," said Robert Smith, NOAA's Reserve Coordinator for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Reserve. "Public input is critical to planning for the future of this remote and fragile marine wilderness. From the outset, the public will be participants in considering how best to conserve biological, historical and cultural resources of global significance for future generations." The new sanctuary proposal begins with a public scoping process that invites information and comments from the public on the range and significance of issues related to the designation and management of the proposed sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will assist NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program in drafting a management plan and an environmental impact statement. Scoping will be held for 60 days with public meetings beginning in April 2002. Comments on the proposed sanctuary designation and draft Reserve Operations Plan may be submitted to NOAA at any of the public scoping meetings, or via these online forms: Sanctuary Designation Comment Form Draft Reserve Operations Plan Comment Form You may also submit comments in writing to the following address: Aulani Wilhelm, 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, #215, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825 or via e-mail at nwhi@noaa.gov. A list of scoping meetings is available at http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov/ sanctuary/designation.html. To learn more about the National Marine Sanctuary Program, please visit http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov.   (top) March 25, 2002

Revised April 09, 2002 by Sanctuaries Web Group Many links leave the National Marine Sanctuary Web Site - please view our Link Disclaimer for more information National Ocean Service | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | U.S. Department of Commerce | NOAA Library | Privacy Policy Contact Us | http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/features/news020320.html