Help Protect NW Hawaiian Islands!
I urge you to allow the Executive Orders which established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve to continue to be the basis for the protection of that vast and remote ecosystem.
I urge you to allow the Executive Orders which established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve to continue to be the basis for the protection of that vast and remote ecosystem. I understand that these Executive Orders (EO) are currently "under review." The EOs were issued on the basis of a century of efforts aimed at protecting the "Yellowstone of the Sea" and after much public input, debate, and compromise. The EOs provide minimal protection for the NWHI ecosystem while allowing fishing to continue at current levels.
The most remote archipelago in the world, stretching 1,200 miles off the coast of Kauai, the NWHI form an isolated network of coral ecosystems and pristine waters. They are home to highly endangered monk seals, sea turtles and millions of sea birds. The NWHI are of profound importance to the Native Hawaiian people and play a significant role in Hawaiian culture. They are rich in legends, artifacts, and burial sites. This fragile ecosystem is extremely vulnerable to external impacts.
The Hawai'i Recreational Fishing Alliance strongly supports the Reserve and the Executive Orders. Due to great distance and rough seas, the existing commercial activity in the NWHI consists of ten active bottomfish boats and a handful of recreational vessels. These boats are grandfathered into the Reserve at current reported levels of catch and activity in over 99% of the areas they accessed prior to Reserve establishment. A mere one fifth of a percent (0.2%) of the Reserve is closed to bottomfishing and recreational fishing. The viewing of sea turtles, which nest in and migrate from the NWHI, is a major component of the $800 million ocean recreation industry in the Main Hawaiian Islands.
There is broad public support for this Reserve throughout Hawai'i, nationally, and internationally. In 2000, Congress passed a unique bill that provided a special protected status and allowed for restrictions on activities that would negatively impact the NWHI. As part of the Reserve establishment process, a series of ten public hearings and meetings were held throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands. In addition to overwhelming public testimony in support of strong protection measures at the hearings, over 9,000 people submitted written comments. The EOs reflect this public input. In addition, the final EO reflected detailed input from the State of Hawai'i and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, some of which led to the weakening of initially proposed protection measures. Any further weakening of existing protection measures would seriously compromise the Reserve.
Please support the existing Executive Orders and the protections for the ecosystem and for fishing that they embody. Please keep in place all of the protection measures that prevent the degradation of the ecosystem of these island habitats.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Signera petitionenSignera petitionenThe most remote archipelago in the world, stretching 1,200 miles off the coast of Kauai, the NWHI form an isolated network of coral ecosystems and pristine waters. They are home to highly endangered monk seals, sea turtles and millions of sea birds. The NWHI are of profound importance to the Native Hawaiian people and play a significant role in Hawaiian culture. They are rich in legends, artifacts, and burial sites. This fragile ecosystem is extremely vulnerable to external impacts.
The Hawai'i Recreational Fishing Alliance strongly supports the Reserve and the Executive Orders. Due to great distance and rough seas, the existing commercial activity in the NWHI consists of ten active bottomfish boats and a handful of recreational vessels. These boats are grandfathered into the Reserve at current reported levels of catch and activity in over 99% of the areas they accessed prior to Reserve establishment. A mere one fifth of a percent (0.2%) of the Reserve is closed to bottomfishing and recreational fishing. The viewing of sea turtles, which nest in and migrate from the NWHI, is a major component of the $800 million ocean recreation industry in the Main Hawaiian Islands.
There is broad public support for this Reserve throughout Hawai'i, nationally, and internationally. In 2000, Congress passed a unique bill that provided a special protected status and allowed for restrictions on activities that would negatively impact the NWHI. As part of the Reserve establishment process, a series of ten public hearings and meetings were held throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands. In addition to overwhelming public testimony in support of strong protection measures at the hearings, over 9,000 people submitted written comments. The EOs reflect this public input. In addition, the final EO reflected detailed input from the State of Hawai'i and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, some of which led to the weakening of initially proposed protection measures. Any further weakening of existing protection measures would seriously compromise the Reserve.
Please support the existing Executive Orders and the protections for the ecosystem and for fishing that they embody. Please keep in place all of the protection measures that prevent the degradation of the ecosystem of these island habitats.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
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