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The USA’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has designated the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary, home of the vast majority of the world’s Black-footed Phoebastria nigripes and Laysan P. immutabilis Alvatrosses, with the publication of a final rule on 16 January 2025. Following the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, after the final rule for sanctuary designation is published, sanctuary designation will take effect following 45 days of continuous session of the U.S. Congress. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and its expansion out to 200 nautical mile, were established under the Antiquities Act of 1906 through, respectively, Presidential Proclamations in 2006; 2007 and 2016.
A Laysan Albatross flies over Midway Atoll, photograph by Eric VanderWerf
“NOAA is designating Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary (sanctuary) to protect nationally significant biological, cultural, and historical resources and to manage this special place as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary consists of an area of approximately 582,570 square statute miles (439,910 square nautical miles) of Pacific Ocean waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the submerged lands thereunder. NOAA is establishing the terms of designation for the sanctuary and the regulations to implement the national marine sanctuary designation. NOAA has also published a final environmental impact statement (final EIS) in coordination with the State of Hawai'i, final management plan, and Record of Decision” (click here).
A brooding Black-footed Albatross on Midway Atoll, photograph by Wieteke Holthuijzen
Copies of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) and management plan described in this rule and the record of decision (ROD) are available here.
John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 20 January 2025