National Marine Sanctuary News

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) will hold a public meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council on Sept. 30, 2003 in Honolulu. The sanctuary is managed by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The meeting will be held at the Honolulu International Airport Interisland Conference Center, 7th Floor from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Council meeting will begin with a follow-up discussion on the Vessel Collision Avoidance Workshop held Sept. 3-5, to be followed by the Council’s regular business meeting.

All meetings are open to the public and any persons wishing to testify on agenda items are requested to submit a written copy of their testimony to the Council Coordinator 24 hours prior to the meeting. Testimonies may be mailed to 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 104, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825, faxed to (808) 397-2650, or e-mailed to keeley.belva@noaa.gov.

The public will be invited to present these statements during its public forum period. To receive more information, or to request a meeting agenda, please contact the Oahu sanctuary office at (808) 397-2651.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is administered by a partnership between NOAA and the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, 13 national marine sanctuaries encompass more than 18,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources. In addition, the NMSP is conducting a sanctuary designation process to incorporate the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve into the national sanctuary system.

NOAA’s National Ocean Service manages the NMSP and is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. The National Ocean Service balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats and mitigating coastal hazards.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Internet:
NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA National Ocean Service - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov
Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary - http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov