Proposal broadens sanctuary to protect all species

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday proposed to expand the focus of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to include all the marine species within its boundaries.

In the works for a couple of years, the proposal also calls for growing the size of the sanctuary by 17 percent — including adding the waters around Niihau — and changing the name to Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary — Na Kai Ewalu.

In addition, the proposal revises various sanctuary regulations and implements 16 new sanctuary action plans aimed at helping with the transition from a single-species sanctuary to an ecosystem-based entity.

Public comments are being accepted on the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement now through June 19.

"This proposal is the result of a multiyear collaborative effort that involved considerable input from all sectors of the local community," said Malia Chow, sanctuary superintendent.

Established by Congress in 1992, the Hawaii national marine sanctuary is the only U.S. sanctuary dedicated to a single species.

Chow said that in 2012, when the sanctuary’s advisory council members were reviewing the agency’s management plan, they decided a more integrated and holistic approach was needed for managing the area’s humpback whales and their ecosystem.

She said the ecosystem-based management approach, as proposed, is supported by science and is consistent with traditional Hawaiian ways of managing natural and cultural resources.

Chow said the sanctuary’s marine ecosystems will benefit significantly from proposals in the new rule. For example, there should be an upgrade in water quality due to monitoring and restoration activities contained in a proposed Water Quality Protection Action Plan in addition to a proposed discharge regulation, she said.

Other proposed action plans include "Understanding and Managing Species and Habitats," "Resilience to a Changing Climate" and "Ocean Literacy."

As part of the rule, Special Sanctuary Management Areas would be established at Maunalua Bay, Penguin Bank — a subsea shelf extending from western Molokai, and the waters of Maui County — with regulations that ban taking and possessing marine species, altering submerged lands, discharging explosives and introducing non-native species.

"We’re not closing access," Chow said. "The average person won’t even be affected. You’ll still be able to collect limu and opihi."

Frazer McGilvray, Malama Maunalua executive director, welcomed the new layer of protection for Maunalua Bay.

"This is significant," McGilvray said. "It represents an unprecedented marine stewardship cooperative by federal and state agencies and has the full support of our community conservation organization."

McGilvray said he looks forward to developing a marine plan aimed at restoring Maunalua Bay’s nearshore environment.

"Sanctuary designation for Maunalua Bay and the designation of the bay as a special education zone ‘walks the talk’ of our commitment to protect marine life and a critical ecosystem covering 7 miles between Black Point and Portlock Point and impacting 60,000 people who live in the area," he said.

Nainoa Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, said in a statement: "I grew up in Maunalua Bay and have witnessed the decline of the health of the nearshore waters. These groundbreaking efforts at Maunalua Bay to reverse that decline are part of a growing movement to malama honua — care for our Island Earth — and we will work together toward that shared vision."

Under the proposed rule, the boundary expansion would add 235 square miles of state and federal waters around Oahu, Kauai and Niihau, bringing the total sanctuary area to 1,601 square miles.

"Na Kai Ewalu" literally means the eight seas and is also a poetic way of referring to the channels that separate the main Hawaiian islands.

Following the comment period, a final management plan and environmental impact statement will be prepared through a public process under the National Environmental Policy Act, officials said.