What is the National Marine Sanctuary Program?

The National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) serves as the trustee for a system of thirteen marine protected areas, encompassing 18,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington State to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Ocean Service has managed National Marine Sanctuaries since passage of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act in 1972. Protecting Sanctuary resources requires a great deal of planning, management, and cooperation between federal, state, and local officials. The NMSP works cooperatively with its partners and the public to balance long-term conserva­tion with enjoyment and use. Increasing public aware­ness of our marine heritage and cultural resources, scientific research, monitoring, exploration, educational programs, and outreach are just a few of the ways the NMSP fulfills its·missiontotheAmerKaFl-peeple.

The NMSP is now considering whether the Northwest-

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ern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) marine environment should be added to the system of Sanctuaries through a Sanctuary deSignation process. This public process involves identifying issues facing the NWHI and determining what a Sanctuary can and should do to address those issues. The process will involve extensive input from the community-based Reserve/Sanctuary

Advisory Council that is already in operation and will also provide numerous opportunities for public input and involvement.

Where can I get more information?

Much information has already been assembled through a number of public processes associated with the establishment of the Reserve and other management regimes in the NWHI. The NMSP will also rely heavily on its Reserve/Sanctuary Advisory Council's advice and help.

The public will have numerous opportunities to participate in the designation, beginning with the scoping meetings and continuing through the development of the draft and final management plans. The N MSP will provide ample notice of each meeting through local media and the website.

For more information about the Reserve, the Sanctuary designation process, or how you can become involved, please visit the

Reserve website at: http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov or contact the Reserve office at:

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve

Proposed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary

6700 Kalaniana'ole Highway, Suite 215

Honolulu, Hawai'i 96825

(808) 397-2668

nwhi@noaa.gov

cover: photo by Jim Maragos.

003115 ........ *** .. ***** .. ***ECRLOT .... C033 JOHN M. VAN DYKE RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW 2515 DOLE STREET HONOLULU, HI 96822-2328

PRSRT. STD. US POSTAGE PAlO HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO 169

The National Marine Sanctuary Program is managed by the National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

University of Hawaii School of Law Library - Jon Van Dyke Archives Collection

Racoon butterflyfish (Chaetadan lunula) feeding; USFWS photo.

What is the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve?

The NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve is a new marine protected area to conserve and protect the coral reef ecosystem and related natural and cultural resources of the area. The Reserve was established by Executive Order pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-513). The NWHI Reserve was established by Executive Order 13 178 (December 2000) and Executive Order 13 196 Oanuary 200 I).

French Frigate Shoals; USFWS photo.

Why was the Reserve created?

Coral reefs are in trouble all over the world. They are being degraded and destroyed at rapid rates by the warming of the ocean, pollution, overfishing and a host of other factors. The Secretaries of Commerce and Interior worked cooperatively with the State of Hawaii to develop recommendations for a new coordinated management regime to increase protection of the coral reefs in the NWHI. Upon consideration of the recom­mendations resulting from interagency discussions and public input provided through a series of visioning sessions, the NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve was created by Executive Order with the intention of bringing together state and federal agencies to help address the global reef crisis by protecting this national treasure for future generations.

If a Reserve has already been created, why is a Sanctuary needed?

The National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000 and the Executive Orders required the Secretary of Commerce to initiate the process to designate the Reserve as a National Marine Sanctuary; in consultation with the Governor of Hawaii and with the advice of the Reserve/Sanctuary Advisory Council. Becoming a Sanctuary offers some advantages over being a Reserve. A Sanctuary may include State waters and waters managed by the Department of the Interior, which are not now part of the Reserve, enabling more comprehensive and coordinated manage­ment to be provided to the area. Also, a Sanctuary is a more established vehicle for marine protection, in terms of enforce­ment, marine debris removal, future shipwreck removal, and also for practical matters such as infrastructure development.

Having a Reserve in place provides immediate added protection and coordinated management for the NWHI coral reef ecosystem and marine environment.A Reserve Operations Plan has been drafted which will serve as a guide to govern the management of the Reserve throughout the designation process to address priority issues like marine debris, research and· monitoring, education, and enforcement. The plan will be incorporated into a long-term Sanctuary management plan upon

successful completion of the designation process.

What are the steps for the designation?

Sanctuary designation is a process is governed by the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and involves identifying issues facing the NWHI and determining what a Sanctuary can and should do to address those issues. Following is a brief synopsis of the process:

Scoping: The NMSP will conduct a public scoping process, including state-wide public meetings, in Spring 2002. Scoping is the initial phase of the designation process and is designed to solicit input from user and interest groups, members of the public, and agencies on what they see as management priorities for a proposed Sanctuary. The result of scoping will help provide the NMSP with information needed to help develop alternatives in a draft environmental impact statement and draft management plan. Comments may be provided at the scoping meetings or be sent to the NMSP through a website or in writing.

Finger coral (Porites compressa); photo by Jim Maragos

Issue Review and Prioritization: After the scoping process, the NMSP will review all comments and work with its Reserve/Sanctuary Advisory Council and the public to prioritize issues. This information will be used in the development of a draft environmental impact statement. Action plans will also be developed to address priority issues, and will form the foundation of a draft management plan. If necessary, additional workshops will be held to help the NMSP develop tailored action plans for specific priority issues. The Reserve Operations Plan that was developed to govern the management of the Reserve during the designation process will also provide the foundation for the draft management plan.

Draft & Final Management Plans: Once designated, each Sanctuary is managed according to a Sanctuary management plan, a Site-specific planning and management document that describes the objectives, policies, and activities for a Sanctuary. Management plans generally contain a series of action plans that address resource protection and general management. They describe boundaries and regulations, identify staffing and budget needs, and set priorities and performance measures for resource protection, research, and education programs. They also guide the development of future management activities. Sanctuary management plans are generally written to cover five to ten years.

The draft management plan for the NWHI will be developed for the proposed Sanctuary designation and issued for public comment, along with the draft environmental impact statement. The NMSP will take written comments and host a series of public hearings on the draft plan. After the close of the public comment period, the NMSP will review comments and make necessary changes before issuing a final management plan and final environmental impact statement.

Brown booby (Sula leucogaster), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) , and Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabifis) keeping company; USFWS photo.

What are the issues and threats that have already been identified?

Because there has been a history of resource management in the NWHI by numerous State and Federal agencies, the NMSP has the advantage of already knOWing what many of the potential issues are that a Sanctuary might help resolve. However, the NMSP will still rely on public input during the designation process to identify additional issues.

Nihoa Island; USFWS photo.

Some of the primary threats to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are from natural processes such as major winter storms, periodic hurricanes, and tidal waves. During the mid-I 970s to late I 980s, changing oceanographic conditions (known as a decadal shift) may have caused the islands' biological productivity to decrease, affecting food availability for all of the resident animals.

Major human-caused threats to the ecosystem include marine debris and possible overuse by humans. Such "overuse" by people includes a number of different activities, for example, vessel groundings and pollution, derelict fishing gear, derelict military and commercial infrastructure, research activities, and ecotourism impacts. Concern has been raised about fishing interactions with monk seals, lobster trap impacts on coral reefs, marine mammal entanglement in fisheries debris, seal consumption of toxic discards, and prey depletion. Although strictly regulated, recreational and commercial fishing are among the more contentious management issues in the area.

Ocean currents have deposited thousands of tons of marine debris and derelict fishing gear from the North Pacific onto the islands, atolls, and reefs of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The nets and lines can entangle and drown monk seals, sea turtles, and seabirds, as well as scour coral reefs. Floating plastic debris is eaten by adult seabirds and fed to their young. Marine debris is also thought to be a potential conduit for the acceler­ated introduction of alien species to coral reef ecosystems.

How can I be involved?

There are many ways for you to get involved in the Sanctuary designation process. You can become involved by first helping identify issues and potential alternatives during the scoping process. The NMSP will accept comments in writing, via the internet, or in person at any of the scoping meetings held in Hawai'i and Washington, D.C. The NMSP will then work with the Reserve/Sanctuary Advisory Council to review and prioritize issues, and you are encouraged to attend Council meetings, which are open to the public. Once issues and strategies are identified and prioritized, the NMSP will develop a draft environmental impact statement which will contain various alternatives, including a preferred alternative. The NMSP will also develop a draft management plan which will contain action plans addressing priority issues. Notice will be provided to the public of each of the meetings and of the release of the draft environmental impact statement and draft management plan for public comment.

University of Hawaii School of Law Library - Jon Van Dyke Archives Collection

Scoping Meetings What are scoping meetings? At the onset of a designation process, the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) holds public meetings to "scope out" or get input from resource users, interest groups, government agencies, and other members of the public on resource management

issues. This input will help define the range of issues that the program needs to address during the sanctuary designation process.

What kind of comments are we looking for? Scoping meetings provide an opportunity for people to make direct comments to the NMSP on issues related to management of the proposed sanctuary's natural and cultural resources and overall administration. We encourage interested members of the

public to participate in the designation process and welcome any comments related to the proposed sanctuary. In particular, we are interested in hearing about the public's view on:

• suggestions on management regimes under the NMSP;

• effectiveness of the existing management regimes in protecting NWHI resources; • emerging NWHI resource management issues;

• resource protection programs (such as endangered species management, marine debris removal, and enforcement); • research and monitoring programs;

• education, volunteer, and outreach programs; and/or • assessment of the existing Reserve Operations Plan.

How can you provide input? The NMSP encourages interested members of the public to participate and provide comments at one of the scoping meetings held in communities throughout the state (see reverse side for meeting dates, times, and locations). Each meeting is equally

important. During the meetings, participants may comment on issues listed above and related to designating a Sanctuary in the NWHI. Those unable to attend the scoping meetings in person can mail or fax written comments directly to the Reserve office.

Comments may also be submitted via e-mail at nwhi@noaa.gov or directly on the project website at http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov .. The public comment period remains open until Friday, May 3,2002.

What can I expect at the scoping meetings? Scoping meetings provide a forum for the public to provide comments to the NMSP designating a Sanctuary in the NWHI. They

are not decision-making meetings. Meetings will generally follow a similar format, but they will be flexible enough to accommodate the number of people in attendance and the physical constraints of each location. At the beginning of each

scoping meeting, NMSP staff will provide all the participants with a summary of the NWHI region and the Sanctuary designation process, detail the scoping meeting format, and answer any questions. Following the introduction, the group will break up into

discussion groups consisting of 10 to 12 people. A group leader will help guide the discussion and ensure everyone has the opportunity to prOVide comments. Each group will have a recorder who will summarize each of the comments on a chart so the group can see their comments are being recorded.

What's next after scoping? Comments from each of the scoping meetings; as well as written comments and e-mail, will be summarized and posted on the

website which can be found at hawaiireef.noaa.gov .. The NMSP will work with the Reserve/Sanctuary Advisory Council and other members of the public to help prioritize issues to be addressed by an upcoming Environmental impact Statement.

University of Hawaii School of Law Library - Jon Van Dyke Archives Collection

Where will the meetings be held? Date Tuesday, April 9

Wednesday, April 10

Thursday,Aprii I I

Thursday,Aprii I I

Friday,Aprii 12

Monday,Aprii 15

Tuesday,Aprii 16

Wednesday,Aprii 17

Thursday,Aprii 18

Friday,April 19

Location Wai'anae, O'ahu

Kane'ohe,O'ahu

Kahului, Maui

Washington, D.C.

Kaunakakai, Moloka'i

Honolulu, O'ahu

Llhu'e, Kaua'i

Hilo, Hawai'i (Big Island)

Kona, Hawai'i (Big Island)

Lana'i City, Lana'i

Time 6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

The public comment period will remain open until Friday, May 3,2002.

Venue Wai'anae District Park Multipurpose Building 85-60 I Farrington Highway Wai'anae, Hawai'i 96792

He'eia Kea State ParkVisitors Center Hall 46-465 Kamehameha Highway Kane'ohe, Hawai'i 96744

Maui Arts & Cultural Center McCoy Studio Theater One Cameron Way Kahului, Hawai'i 96732

Department of Commerce Building Room 1414 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230

Kulana 'Oiwi Halau Lot 24 Maunaloa Highway Kaunakakai, Hawai'i 96748

Japanese Cultural Center Manoa Room 2454 South Beretania Street Honolulu, Hawai'i 96826

Radisson Kaua'i Beach Resort Jasmine Ballroom 4331 Kaua'i Beach Drive Llhu'e, Hawai'i 96766

University of Hawai'i at Hilo Marine Science Building 200 West Kawili Street Hilo, Hawai'i 96720

King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel Kamakahonu Ballroom 75-5660 Palani Road Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740

Lana'i Public Library Frazier Avenue Lana'i City, Hawai'i 96763

For more information, visit the designation website at http://hawaiireef.noaa.gov.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary (Proposed) 6700 Kalaniana'ole Highway, Suite 215 Honolulu, Hawai'i 96825 808-397-2668 nwhi@noaa.gov

University of Hawaii School of Law Library - Jon Van Dyke Archives Collection