Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary designation update
A Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) final environmental impact statement (FEIS) was published in The Environmental Notice on December 23, 2024, following NOAA’s publication of the National Environmental Policy Act FEIS on December 13, 2024. You can access the HEPA FEIS at this link.
The proposed national marine sanctuary would be co-managed by NOAA and the State of Hawaiʻi, and in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The current co-management of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument will continue. The national marine sanctuary would include only the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea.
National marine sanctuary designation would add the conservation benefits of a national marine sanctuary by applying additional protections and management tools to augment and strengthen conservation for the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea. The designation proposal includes management measures from the existing monument and additions for consistency in management.
Please check the website for the most up-to-date information on national marine sanctuary designation and stay tuned as the process continues to move forward.