Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) consist of small islands, atolls, submerged banks, and reefs, which stretch for more than 2,000 km northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. On June 15, 2006, the President of the United States designated the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) a national monument, enabling nearly 140,000 square miles of the NWHI to receive our Nation's highest form of marine environmental protection. The coral reefs of the NWHI may be the healthiest and most undisturbed of the United States reefs, and unlike most other present-day coral reefs, they comprise possibly the last, large-scale, apex predator-dominated coral reef ecosystem on Earth. The NWHI coral reefs and associated habitats harbor more than 7,000 species, many of which are rare, threatened, or endangered; many are endemic, found nowhere else on Earth. Many more remain unidentified or even undiscovered to science.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands satellite map

State of The Reefs report (SOTR)

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008.

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005.

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002.

Metadata, Data and Publications Search in CoRIS

Search the CoRIS Data and Publications Section for Northwestern Hawaiian Islands metadata, data and publications.

You may also choose to enter the name of any individual island, shoal, atoll, submerged bank, etc., in the CoRIS Data & Publications Section Quick Search field and press the "Submit" button.

ReefBase Coral Bleaching Reports

Select "U.S. Pacific Islands" in the region window and "Hawaiian Islands (USA)" in the Country window.

Other Data & Information

Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center

Atlas of the Shallow-water Benthic Habitats of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

 

Near-real-time Data

CRED moored instruments with telemetry

The Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Program

NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Program

Degree Heating Weeks

Nighttime Sea Surface Temperature(SST)

(SST) Temperature

Current Operational SST Anomaly Charts

Key Documents

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Local Action Strategy for Hawaii

Vessel Monitoring System Requirements for vessels issued a permit to operate in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument
http://www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov/PDFs/VMSfedreg.pdf

Ecological characterization of the NWHI

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (December 4, 2000)
Executive Order 13178

Final Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem
Reserve (January 18, 2001)
Executive Order 13196: Amendment to Executive Order 13178

Establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Approved Exclusive Economic Zone for the Hawai'ian Islands, USA

White House fact sheet on monument designation

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Coast Guard Joint Position Statement on Enforcement of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve
http://www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov/PDFs/CG_NOAA_Enforcement.pdf

Advice and recommendations for development of draft fishing regulations under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act 304(a)(5) for the proposed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary
http://www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov/management/designation/pdfs/
Final_NMSA_304a5.pdf

Final Reserve operation plan

State of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve report (February 2006)

Other Publications

Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Condition Report 2009

Education and Outreach

Welcome to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument: Education and outreach

Citizen's Guide to the NWHI Marine National Monument (September 2006)

One-page fact sheet - Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem: A National Treasure

NWHI multi-agency Education Projects

Marine Protected Areas/ Marine Managed Areas

National Marine Fisheries Service Inventory of Marine Managed Areas 

Report on the Status of Marine Protected Areas in Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States.  Volume 1: Marine Protected Areas Managed by U.S. States, Territories, and Commonwealths. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 2 February 2007

Marine Protected Areas of the United States Home Page

The Marine Protected Areas Inventory

Federal MPA Legislation

Marine Federal Areas Fact Sheet

Executive order 13158: Marine Protected Areas

MPA Virtual Library

A review of interactions between Hawaii's fisheries and protected species - Fisheries of Hawaii and U.S.-associated Pacific Islands

Hancock Seamount

Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge

NHHI Lobster Fishery

Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Crustacean Fisheries; Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Lobster Fishery

Lobster Closed Areas

Lobster Closed Season - Permit Area 1

Lobster Closed Season - Permit Area 2

Longline Protected Species Zone

Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

WestPac Bed

U.S. Western Pacific Fisheries – Past to Present

U.S. Creates World's Second Largest Marine Protected Area

Highlights and Press Releases

News Releases 2001-1006

President Bush Establishes Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument
The East Room

Fact Sheet: The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument: A Commitment to Good Stewardship of Our Natural Resources

The Bush Administration's Environmental Philosophy

NWHI Marine National Monument (MNM) map of boundaries and special management areas

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument Boundary Coordinates

U.S. Department of the Interior: Protecting the Nation's Coral Reefs

President sets aside largest marine conservation area on Earth

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