NOAA Proposes Changes for Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

The U.S. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has propose expanding the boundaries and scope of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, to amend the regulations for HIHWNMS, to change the name of the sanctuary, and to revise the sanctuary’s terms of designation and management plan. The purpose of this action is to transition the sanctuary from a single-species management approach to an ecosystem-based management approach.

A draft environmental impact statement and draft revised management
plan have been prepared for this proposed action. NOAA is soliciting public comment on the proposed rule, draft environmental impact statement, and draft revised management plan. Comments on this proposed rule will be considered if received by June 19, 2015.

Click here to read the Federal Register notice for this action