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](images/nwhi_detail_400.jpg)
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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