Broadening protections already provided by seven Pacific Island national wildlife refuges, three marine national monuments created by President Bush on January 6 join Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in conserving some of the most pristine areas of the Pacific Ocean. Under the President's plan, 195,274 square miles will be protected, affording shelter to thousands of marine species, including coral, seabirds, shorebirds, fish, marine mammals and other ocean dwellers, such as the leather anemone (shown above) at Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge.

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On January 6, President Bush announced the nomination of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument for inscription on the World Heritage List. The Monument is being nominated for its cultural and natural resource values, and would be America's first marine site and the world's first cultural seascape to be included. Papahānaumokuākea is co-managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the State of Hawai‘i, in coordination with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and includes the 100-year-old Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, where Laysan and black-footed albatross are nesting in the photo above.

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The albatross, is a bird of legend and extremes. This group of birds boasts the species with the longest wingspan at over 11 feet and is one of the greatest long distance wanderers in the world. A breeding albatross can fly more than 10,000 miles to deliver a single meal to its chick and a fledgling wandering albatross will fly over 110,000 miles in its first year alone

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1/8/09 - Acting FWS Director Announces New Leadership for Refuges,Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs    

12/23/08 - Monument Agencies Release Papahānaumokuākea Management Plan    

12/19/08 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Investigates Killing Of Protected Mariana Fruit Bats