Ecotourism ends at Midway Atoll

A $1 million shortfall in annual budget also means no new research can begin

By William Cole

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 16, 2012

~~<p>Midway Atoll has been described as the "window" to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as the only site open to the public within the remote island chain.</p>
<p>But that view is dimming with the federal budget crunch, a more than $1 million budget shortfall and a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to shut down ecotourism. The agency also will allow no new research and reduce its 10-person on-island staff to five, among other cutbacks.</p>
<table width="50%" align="right" class="infoboxright_table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<h4>332</h4>
Individuals visited Midway with permits during the 2012 fiscal year
<h4>3M</h4>
Birds make the island their home for much of each year
<h4>10</h4>
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff on the island, to be cut to five</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
~~

Midway Atoll has been described as the "window" to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as the only site open to the public within the remote island chain.

But that view is dimming with the federal budget crunch, a more than $1 million budget shortfall and a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to shut down ecotourism. The agency also will allow no new research and reduce its 10-person on-island staff to five, among other cutbacks. 332 Individuals visited Midway with permits during the 2012 fiscal year 3M Birds make the island their home for much of each year 10 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff on the island, to be cut to five Login for more...