Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary designation update 1/8/25
A Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) final environmental impact statement (FEIS) was accepted by Governor Josh Green. The acceptance was published in The Environmental Notice on January 8, 2025 following publication of the FEIS on December 23, 2024. You can access the acceptance at this link.
The proposed National Marine Sanctuary would be co-managed by NOAA and the State of Hawaiʻi 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 NOAA website for the most up-to-date information on National Marine Sanctuary designation and stay tuned as the process continues to move forward.