Humpback Sanctuary Expanding Past Whales

NOAA News Release
 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is reviewing its Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary management plan and encouraging public input through a series of meetings from Aug. 10-26. During these meetings, comments on management considerations will be recorded as input to the management plan process.

A meeting will be held on Molokai at the Mitchell Pauole Center, Kaunakakai, on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary wants to expand its scope and direction regarding protection and conservation of other living marine resources, in addition to humpback whales and submerged cultural heritage resources within the sanctuary. Staff is seeking input this new direction, and this proposal is detailed in the State of the Sanctuary Report Special Management Plan Review Edition and is available to the public on the Internet at:  http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/management_plan_review.html.

NOAA also recently released Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report, which provides a summary of resources with a specific focus on humpback whales in the sanctuary and is a supporting document of the management review. This report can be accessed online at:  http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/welcome.html.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov. Management Plan Review phone contact is 1-888-55-WHALE ext. 267

More information on public scoping meetings, ways to submit comments, and copies of the recent Federal Register notice and a variety of documents can be found on Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary web site http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.