The country’s 18th national marine sanctuary would strengthen protections for the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
Silver Spring, Md. – January 16, 2025 – The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation joined national, State of Hawaiʻi, and Native Hawaiian community leaders in celebrating the advancement of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary in the sanctuary designation process. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its final rule for the proposed sanctuary, one of the last steps before official designation.
Papahānaumokuākea protects one of the last pristine ocean environments in the world, is a sacred place with deep biocultural significance to Native Hawaiians, and safeguards the final resting place of those lost during World War II’s Battle of Midway.
Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary would become America’s 18th national marine sanctuary, after the designation of Lake Ontario and Chumash Heritage national marine sanctuaries this year. Support for the recognition and conservation of Papahānaumokuākea has been strengthened through both Republican and Democratic Administrations.
Papahānaumokuākea’s status as a marine national monument would not change under a sanctuary designation. The established Monument co-management structure with the State of Hawaii, Department of Interior/USFWS, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs will be integrated into the management of the sanctuary. The designation of a national marine sanctuary for the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea would provide additional public education, outreach, and community engagement opportunities as well as regulatory and management tools to augment and strengthen existing protections for its ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural and maritime heritage resources.
Joel R. Johnson, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, said, “Papahānaumokuākea is one of the most special places on Earth. Native Hawaiians regard the area’s atolls, islands, and waters as sacred places from which all life springs and ancestral spirits return after death. The ocean waters of the proposed sanctuary were an ancient pathway for traditional voyaging and wayfinding and continue to be important in the Hawaiian Archipelago’s cultural voyaging seascape. As one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, its biological wonders include more than 7,000 species, many found nowhere else in the world. This is a place that deserves the strongest protection offered by our laws.
“Community is the life-force of sanctuaries, with outreach and education programs providing a pathway toward meaningful connections and stewardship to this special place for students, educators, policy makers, community leaders, and the public. As a national marine sanctuary, we can be assured that Papahānaumokuākea will remain a place that inspires the world and is a lasting source of solutions against climate change and biodiversity loss.
“I congratulate NOAA, the State of Hawaiʻi, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who currently co-manage Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and would continue that partnership with the sanctuary, as well as the communities in Hawaiʻi. This designation would be a win for permanent protection of biocultural wonders in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Ocean.”
National marine sanctuaries are our best available tool to protect places such as Papahānaumokuākea. Sanctuary status offers a more durable layer of protection that strengthens and complements existing protections of the marine national monument, thanks to the legislative protection of sanctuaries and the community-focused, public participatory process required for designation. Throughout the public process, more than 14,000 public comments were submitted.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation manages the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, which employs people in the community and brings Papahānaumokuākea to life for nearly 50,000 visitors every year. The Foundation currently employs a Native Hawaiian Education Specialist and the sanctuary will employ a Native Hawaiian Programs coordinator on staff to directly engage with the Native Hawaiian community.
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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports America’s national marine sanctuaries through our mission to protect species, conserve ecosystems and preserve cultural and maritime heritage. We accomplish our mission through community stewardship and engagement programs, on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. The Foundation fosters innovative projects that are solution-oriented, scalable and transferable, and develop strategic partnerships that promote the conservation and recovery of species and their habitats. Learn more at marinesanctuary.org.
Contact: Chip Weiskotten
Director of Strategic Communications
301-754-6134
chip@marinesanctuary.org