Division of Aquatic Resources

Draft designation documents have been published for the proposed Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary would be managed by NOAA and the State of Hawaiʻi. Current co-management of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument will continue. The national marine sanctuary would include only the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea.

 

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.

 

A draft environmental impact statement was published in The Environmental Notice. Public comment is open through May 7, 2024. Comments will be accepted in both English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). A public informational meeting will be held on March 25. Public comment meetings will be held virtually and in-person in April. Public comments may also be submitted online at Federal eRulemaking Portal. The docket number is NOAA-NOS-2021-0114.

 

Please check the NOAA website for the most up-to-date information on public meetings, including meeting locations and the virtual meeting registration link.