Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Linda Wade
A key deadline is near for coming up with ways to protect reef
ecosystems in the northwest hawaiian islands. The ecosystems,
like this one in Kiribati, are home to many animals not
found anywhere else.

Race to save
the reefs

Due date nears for
protecting Northwest
Hawaiian Island ecosystems

Public input welcome

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

State and federal officials are working against a tight deadline to develop recommendations ordered by President Clinton to protect coral reef ecosystems of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Many of the diverse fishes, invertebrates, birds, marine mammals, sea turtles and other species living in the region are found nowhere else.

Officials hope to balance conflicting interests and jurisdictional issues "to come up with what is best for the resource, the state and nation," said Commander Rusty Brainard, science program coordinator at the National Marine Fisheries Service's Honolulu Laboratory.

Beginning July 24 on Oahu, meetings are scheduled on each major island and in Washington, D.C., to seek "public vision" for the protection recommendations. The people's recommendations must be sent to the secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior by Aug. 24.

The agencies are preparing briefing pamphlets and a slide show to educate the public on the Northwestern Islands -- "what's there, why it needs protection, the agencies involved," Brainard said.

"It's the most pristine, unique ecosystem around the globe -- a very precious place because it has been as well protected as it has been."

President set timetable

Clinton set a 90-day deadline when he asked the secretaries May 26 for a plan to ensure protection and sustainable use of Northwestern Hawaiian Island coral reef resources.

He directed them to work with the state and Western Pacific Fishery Management Council to protect "our tropical rain forests of the water."

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, comprising about 70 percent of all coral reefs in the United States, is the first area designated by Clinton for protection under the Coral Reef Task Force plan.

A process to allow "fair and open discussion" was determined at a recent meeting here of Commerce and Interior representatives from Washington, D.C., with state Department of Land and Natural Resources and fishery council officials.

The task is complicated because all four agencies have mandated responsibilities to protect things in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Brainard said.

"They all overlap. Instead of working against each other, doing turf wars, the whole spirit is for the agencies to work together for what is best for the resources...."

Programs would join others

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands encompass Nihoa and Necker Islands, French Frigate Shoals, Maro Reef and Pearl & Hermes Atoll.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains two refuges -- the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1909 by President Teddy Roosevelt, and the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1988.
The state manages the Kure Atoll State Wildlife Sanctuary and is proposing to establish fisheries management areas three miles out from the shoreline in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has authority for waters from three to 200 miles from shore under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1978. It has been working five years on a Coral Reef Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan in federal waters.

When the groups talk, "obviously, there is a difference of opinion on just about every issue," Brainard said.

"But I think we all agreed we will work well together. Different viewpoints are critical to the process."

Land Board Chairman Timothy Johns said the group made progress in establishing ground rules, goals and deadlines to respond to Clinton's directive.

A lot of work must be done to meet the deadlines, but all the agencies "are really motivated to make something happen," he said.

Johns said he's encouraged that the parties are focusing on the resources, their values and what needs to be done to protect them for future generations.

He said the primary concern for Hawaii is making sure the state can maintain control of waters up to three miles out in the Northwestern Islands "in a balanced way -- balancing economic benefits from use of resources with long-term preservation and conservation."

The state also is concerned that "what is done in adjacent waters is compatible and complements what our management scheme will be in our waters," he said.

"Quite a few agencies are doing a lot of different things up there," Johns pointed out.

"One of the real benefits of this effort is to make sure everything is fully coordinated."

Compromise a necessity

Brainard said compromise will be necessary to protect the resources, environment and rights of fishing communities. "We will try to reach a balance. That will be built into the system, so it will not be so rigid that it can't be changed as we learn more."

Brainard said the management planning already done could be expanded upon but the agencies want a coordinated plan. "They want not to make a huge issue of lines of jurisdiction....

"Nobody will be completely satisfied, but the objective is to protect the ecosystem while still preserving the cultural heritage and human rights issues of use," he added.

Home of rare flora and fauna Threatened and endangered species of the Northwestern Hawaiian isles: Endangered Hawksbill sea turtle Hawaiian monk seal Humpback whale Nihoa millerbird Nihoa finch Laysan finch Laysan duck Amaranthus bronii (plant with no common name) Cenchrus agraminoides, variety laysanensis (plant known as Kamanomano) Mariscus pennatiformis, subspecies bryanii (plant, no common name) Pritchardia remota (plant known as Loulu) Schiedea verticillata (plant, no common name). Sesbania tomentosa (plant, 'Ohai) Threatened Species Green sea turtle Proposed endangered species Short-tailed albatross Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-Pacific Islands

 | | |

Public input
welcome at meetings

Six meetings are planned to give islanders an opportunity to help form recommendations relating to coral reef ecosystems of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Residents may view exhibits and talk with agency representatives at an open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. before each meeting, which will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. as follows:

Oahu: July 24, Kalihi Kai Elementary School cafeteria.
Maui: July 25, Baldwin High School auditorium.
Big Island: July 27, Kealakehe High School cafeteria, Kona.
Big Island: July 28, Hilo High School cafeteria.
Kauai: July 31, Kauai Community College cafeteria.
Molokai: August 1, Mitchell Pauole Center.

A meeting also is scheduled July 21 at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

Residents are asked to comment on qualities of the ecosystems that should be preserved; current and future threats to the ecosystems; activities and appropriate and inappropriate uses in the islands; and the types of management actions needed to provide strong protection.

Written comments may be mailed to the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, Attn: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, 110 South Church Ave., Suite 3350, Tucson, AZ 85701.

Comments also may be faxed to the institute at (520) 670-5530 or submitted to its Web site, www.ecr.gov/nwhi. More information is available at the site.

Aug. 2 is the deadline for all comments.