On June 15, 2006, President Bush declared the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) a Marine National Monument, the nation's highest form of marine environmental protection.
In becoming a national monument, the NWHI will have existing conservation strengthened and new protections implemented, ensuring the islands, atolls, reefs, shoals, and wildlife thrive undisturbed for generations to come.
The NWHI National Monument is currently in its first phase, which involves educating the public, hence last weeks Moloka'i meeting at Kulana 'Oiwi.
Representatives from the co-trustee management agencies attended the meeting to discuss the Monument status and answer questions. The co-trustee management agencies, whose responsibilities involve the protection of the natural and cultural heritage of the NWHI, include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State of Hawaii.
"We have a global ocean treasure in our own backyard," said NOAA Superintendent of NWHI Marine National Monument, Aulani Wilhelm. "The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are our sacred place, a place where our spirits return after death."
Approximately 140,000 square miles of land are covered by the NWHI National Monument.
"This is the largest fully protected marine area in the world," said Pacific Remote Fish and Wildlife Service Project Leader, Don Palawski.
The NWHI are now under strict regulation, including prohibition of unauthorized access, carefully regulated educational and scientific activities, the phasing out of commercial fishing over a five year period, and a ban on resource extraction and dumping of waste.
Despite the NWHI's remote location and the absence of humans, there are severe environmental threats. Marine debris is a major problem, as well as invasive alien species, sea temperature change, vessel hazards, and illegal dumping and poaching. These are just some of the issues that the NWHI National Monument status hopes to resolve.
"We have an enormous opportunity and an enormous challenge ahead," said Wilhelm. "And as co-trustees we are here to take on the challenge with you."
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