Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS Management Plan Review Update

Management Plan Review Update

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is co-managed through a partnership between NOAA and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources.   The sanctuary was designated by an act of Congress in 1992 to be a single-species sanctuary to protect humpback whales and their habitat. The sanctuary has initiated the process to review, evaluate, and update its management plan and will continue to ensure a high level of public engagement throughout this process.

One of the methods to facilate this involvement is through the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. The council allows Hawai‘i residents to provide advice on the sanctuary’s resource protection, research, education and outreach programs to the sanctuary superintendent. The council, established in March 1996, is comprised of members from various local user groups, native Hawaiian groups, conservation, science and educational organizations, county interests and members of the public. Sanctuary Advisory Council working groups have developed management recommendations to address priority issues identified during a 90-day public scoping period that was held in summer of 2010. These recommendations do not reflect the endorsement of any individuals or agencies but are a result of a process by the working groups which synthesized multiple sources of information and collectively developed and produced these reports. Working group reports will be presented to the full council for their review and approval at the Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting open to the public on January 17 & 18th, 2012, prior to forwarding recommendations to sanctuary management. The recommendations do not reflect the views of the full council, the sanctuary, the State of Hawai'i, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As a courtesy to the public, working group recommendation reports are available for download prior to the council meeting in January 2012. All working group reports are listed in alphabetical order below.  For more information contact Joseph.Paulin@noaa.gov.

Climate Change Working Group Report (352 KB)
Ecosystem Protections Working Group Report (524 KB)
Enforcement Working Group Report (296 KB)
Humpback Whale Protections Working Group Report (1MB)
Maritime Heritage Working Group Report (188 KB)
Native Hawaiian Culture Working Group Report (392 KB)
Ocean Literacy Working Group Report (240 KB)
Offshore Development Working Group Report (1.6MB)
Water Quality Working Group Report (620 KB)

HOW TO PROVIDE INPUT

Talk with your Sanctuary Advisory Council constituent representative prior to the January 17-18 council
meeting.  A list of council members can be found here:

http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/council_members.html

Thank you for your continued support!