The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on April 17 that it is planning to designate a national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands area.
This is an initiative imposed by President Joe Biden and was affirmed on March 24 by the Department of Commerce, according to a release by NOAA. There will be public comment on the proposed sanctuary through June 22.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and Department of Commerce are committed to bold conservation goals through America the Beautiful initiative,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Sanctuary designation would bring to bear NOAA’s capacity and expertise in research and management of coastal and marine resources, maritime heritage and archaeology, and public education and outreach in order to protect the unique ecological and cultural resources of the Pacific Remote Islands.”
The proposal includes marine areas within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, along with unprotected submerged lands and waters that cover about 770,000 square miles in the central Pacific Ocean. Terrestrial areas will be excluded from the proposed sanctuary.
The Pacific Remote Islands contain atolls, seamounts, banks, reefs and shoals. These support some of the most diverse tropical marine ecosystems on the planet. As for wildlife, there are coral, sharks, fish, marine mammals, seabirds and invertebrates.
NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said that the ecosystems of the island area are always faced with threats from things like climate change, marine debris and invasive species. He stressed the importance of the sanctuary.
“Designating this incredibly important area as a national marine sanctuary would complement and strengthen existing efforts to preserve the region’s natural, cultural and historic values.”
This sanctuary coincides with the president’s directive and if it is established the new marine sanctuary will be additional protection for the existing marine protected areas. This allows for the conservation and preservation of the Pacific Remote Islands’ unique marine ecosystems.
The NOAA will be hosting in-person public hearings and there is an option to see them virtually and join in. The meetings are intended for the NOAA to gather input on things like how a new sanctuary would impose any threats, any potential boundaries, compatible uses and how to promote educational initiatives. The NOAA will be using the information received to help prepare documents on how to move forward. Comments can also be mailed.
To comment online, log onto www.regulations.gov and search for the docket number NOAA-NOS-2023-0052.
