Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Proposed Sanctuary Fishery Regulations FAQs & Council Family Updates

Why is a Sanctuary being proposed now?

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) has long desired a National Marine Sanctuary for the NWHI. In 2006, a Monument was designated. Given the recent example of a President altering an existing Monument through the Antiquities Act, there is a desire to create more permanence in the region.

Which boundary options are ONMS considering?

It’s unclear at this time. The Council understands that the sanctuary designation process, which includes an Environmental Impact Statement analysis to satisfy the National Environmental Protection Act and formal public scoping, will examine boundary options.

What does that mean for fishing in the NWHI?

Currently there are federal and state regulations in place that prohibit commercial and recreational fishing from the beach to 200 miles offshore. As part of this process, Council staff is working with NOAA lawyers to better assess the existing regulatory frameworks regarding fishing. These existing legal frameworks include the State NWHI Marine Refuge; the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve; the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Monument Expansion Area Marine National Monument. This comprehensive understanding will serve as a starting point for any fishery proposal discussions.

Can we undo what’s there?

It doesn’t appear that this is a likely outcome of the sanctuary designation process. If that changes given the legal review outcomes, we’ll be sure to update our Council family and to modify any proposal with that in mind.

Can fish come home to the Main Hawaiian Islands?

This is part of the legal review. It appears that from some portions of the Monument this may be possible in a regulated/managed fashion that the Monument managers would implement via a permit. Customary exchange is allowed in other Pacific Monuments, though implementation has not yet occurred.

Who is the sole management agency?

The NWHI region is collectively managed through a high-level governmental partnership. There is no sole management agency in charge. The area is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, the State of Hawai‘i and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The agencies follow a consensus decision model.

Council Family Updates

At the 187th Council meeting, the Council supported the following advisory body changes:

Appointed Michael Dueñas, Guam Department of Agriculture, as an alternate on the Guam AP

Appointed Nate Ilaoa, Flying Fox Brewing Co., as a member of the American Samoa Advisory Panel (AP)

Appointed Sean Hanser and Kaipo Perez III, U.S. Navy, to the Hawai‘i Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC)

Appointed Kevin Lino and AJ Reyes, U.S. Navy, to the Guam REAC

Appointed AJ Reyes, U.S. Navy, to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands REAC

Appointed Audrey Toves, One Love GUd Vibes Charters, to the Non-Commercial Fishery Advisory Committee