Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm

Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 5-231 Pacific Remote Islands Honolulu, HI 96850 Marine National Monument Planning Update Number 1, September 2011

Coral diversity at Tortugonias Reef, Palmyra Atoll NWR - Laura Beauregard/USFWS Management Planning begins for 4 Help us identify the scope of issues to be considered during the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument early planning phase by sending your comments to:

E-mail: [email protected], include “Pacific Greetings! On January 6, 2009, The Secretary of the Interior, (MMP) that will integrate Remote Islands” in the subject line of the message. President George W. Bush through the U.S. Fish and individual refuge Comprehensive established the Pacific Remote Wildlife Service (Service), has Conservation Plans (CCPs) and U.S. Mail: Laura Beauregard, Refuge Planner, Hawaiian and Islands Marine National responsibility for the management NOAA’s monument management Pacific Islands NWRC, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5-231, Visit our websites: Monument. The Monument of the Monument in consultation activities and regulations Honolulu, HI 96850 http://www.fws.gov/pacificremoteislandsmarinemonument/ provides broad scale protections with the Secretary of Commerce, for fishery-related activities. http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/MNM/mnm_index.html Telephone: 808.792.9558 and incorporates 86,888 square through the National Oceanic and Opportunities for public input miles within its boundaries, which Atmospheric Administration’s will be announced throughout the extend 50 nautical miles from the (NOAA), who has primary planning process. mean low water lines of Howland, responsibility for management Baker, and Jarvis Islands; with respect to fishery-related Johnston, Wake, and Palmyra activities. Atolls; and Kingman Reef. Working cooperatively, the Service In This Update These lands, reefs, and waters and NOAA are seeking input from represent some of the last frontiers the public, interested agencies, and • The MMP Planning Process and havens for wildlife in the organizations regarding concerns, • Monument Overview world, and comprise the most interests, and viewpoints about widespread collection of coral reef, important monument management • Preliminary Issues seabird, and shorebird protected issues. This information will • Planning Schedule areas on the planet under a single be helpful as we develop the • How to Contact Us nation’s jurisdiction. Monument Management Plan

Red-footed booby and chick - USFWS 2 3 The MMP Planning Process including a thriving table coral in the shallows near the islands, a seabirds, including one of the Marine National Monuments in the Pacific community and a dozen species resulting in high fish biomasses. largest red-footed booby colonies NOAA and the Service are found only in the Hawaiian and These remote and rarely visited in the world and the largest black working to develop a Vision northern Line Islands. Large reefs are characterized by a large noddy colony in the Central Statement and Goals for the populations of seabirds, sea turtles, proportion of top predators in the Pacific. Large numbers of the rare Monument. These will be followed whales, and reef sharks are found fish community. Up to 340 fish bristle-thighed curlew and several by developing management here. species inhabit these isolated reefs, other wintering shorebird species strategies common throughout and giant clams, sharks, and sea depend on Palmyra for survival. the Monument. Fisheries-related turtles are abundant. management will be planned The Nature Conservancy also through the National Marine Palmyra Atoll and manages a preserve and small Fisheries Service process. Kingman Reef research camp at Palmyra Atoll Part of the Line Islands chain, for the Palmyra Atoll Research The Service is working to Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef Consortium. Through this complete CCPs for all seven of are also remnants of volcanoes consortium of 10 institutions the existing National Wildlife from some 65-120 million years from the United States and New Zealand, scientists conduct Refuges that will be integrated Brown boobies - Lindsey Hayes/USFWS ago. Kingman is known to be the into the MMP. The MMP will be most undisturbed coral reef within crucial monitoring and research accompanied by an Environmental Howland, Baker, and the U.S., complete with a greater with global implications such Assessment (EA) describing the Jarvis Islands proportion of apex predators than as the changing global climate, alternatives considered and their All three of these refuges hug at any other studied coral reef marine and territory biodiversity, environmental effects. the equator and were formed ecosystem in the world. Palmyra conservation, restoration and as fringing reefs around small Atoll has one of the best remaining ecosystem dynamics. CCPs for Howland, Baker, and islands built by volcanoes some examples of Pisonia grandis Jarvis Islands and their respective 65-120 million years ago. They rainforest found in the Pacific, and Wake Atoll Preliminary Issues EAs are complete, although support shrubs and grasses a large diversity of fish species Wake is the northernmost atoll in they may be revised if needed. adapted to the arid climate at (418 species). Many nationally the Marshall Islands geological We have identified the following • Wildlife and habitat Management alternatives for the Equator and host colonies and internationally threatened, ridge and perhaps the oldest living preliminary issues that we may management. the Kingman Reef and Palmyra of 15 different breeding seabird endangered, and depleted species atoll in the world. In addition address in the Monument’s Plan. • Visitor services management. Atoll CCPs are currently in species, some with population thrive at Palmyra and Kingman, to being an active U.S. Air • Methods for protecting the • Historic and cultural resources development and we encourage sizes of international significance. including sea turtles, pearl oysters, Force airfield, the atoll provides physical, biological, and protection. you to participate in the process At these three reefs, coral cover giant clams, reef sharks, coconut important seabird and migratory cultural resources for the • Facilities maintenance. during public comment periods. and species diversity is much crabs, fishes, and dolphins. shorebird habitat, as well as long-term while providing • Scientific exploration and Johnston and Wake Atolls’ CCPs higher than in Hawai‘i or Florida. vibrant coral reefs that support high quality opportunities for research management. are scheduled to be initiated in Beyond the shallow fringing large populations of fishes in the wildlife-dependent recreation. • Develop an appropriate 2012. reefs and terraces, the slopes of refuge/monument waters. More • Impacts from past and current permitting regime for activities the extinct volcanoes drop off than 300 fish species and 100 use of military sites. in the Monument, where Monument Overview sharply to the deep floor of the coral species thrive on shallow necessary. equatorial Pacific Ocean. The coral reefs, along with giant The Monument includes seven Equatorial Countercurrent creates clams, marine turtles, and spinner islands or atolls spread across a localized, nutrient-rich upwelling dolphins. Planning Schedule vast portion of the Pacific Ocean. At the core of each area of the Elements of the MMP Currently in Progress Target Date monument is a dynamic and unique zone that is also protected through Tridacna maxima clam Jim Maragos/USFWS Release of draft CCPs for Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef Spring 2012 the National Wildlife Refuge Public review and comment for Palmyra Atoll System. and Kingman Reef draft CCPs Spring 2012 Large schools of rare melon- Final Palmyra Atoll & Kingman Reef CCPs Fall 2012 headed whales reside off both Johnston Atoll Release of public review draft MMP Elements in Common Winter 2013 Johnston is an ancient atoll. It atolls, and a species of beaked whale was recently rediscovered. is the northernmost of the Line Dates are tentative and subject to change as the planning process progresses. Updates Palmyra supports breeding Islands archipelago. Johnston Humphead wrasse / NOAA and revisions for other MMP elements will be scheduled at a later date. Anemone fish and bubble-tip anemone populations of 11 species of supports at least 45 coral species, Jim Maragos/USFWS 2 3 The MMP Planning Process including a thriving table coral in the shallows near the islands, a seabirds, including one of the Marine National Monuments in the Pacific community and a dozen species resulting in high fish biomasses. largest red-footed booby colonies NOAA and the Service are found only in the Hawaiian and These remote and rarely visited in the world and the largest black working to develop a Vision northern Line Islands. Large reefs are characterized by a large noddy colony in the Central Statement and Goals for the populations of seabirds, sea turtles, proportion of top predators in the Pacific. Large numbers of the rare Monument. These will be followed whales, and reef sharks are found fish community. Up to 340 fish bristle-thighed curlew and several by developing management here. species inhabit these isolated reefs, other wintering shorebird species strategies common throughout and giant clams, sharks, and sea depend on Palmyra for survival. the Monument. Fisheries-related turtles are abundant. management will be planned The Nature Conservancy also through the National Marine Palmyra Atoll and manages a preserve and small Fisheries Service process. Kingman Reef research camp at Palmyra Atoll Part of the Line Islands chain, for the Palmyra Atoll Research The Service is working to Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef Consortium. Through this complete CCPs for all seven of are also remnants of volcanoes consortium of 10 institutions the existing National Wildlife from some 65-120 million years from the United States and New Zealand, scientists conduct Refuges that will be integrated Brown boobies - Lindsey Hayes/USFWS ago. Kingman is known to be the into the MMP. The MMP will be most undisturbed coral reef within crucial monitoring and research accompanied by an Environmental Howland, Baker, and the U.S., complete with a greater with global implications such Assessment (EA) describing the Jarvis Islands proportion of apex predators than as the changing global climate, alternatives considered and their All three of these refuges hug at any other studied coral reef marine and territory biodiversity, environmental effects. the equator and were formed ecosystem in the world. Palmyra conservation, restoration and as fringing reefs around small Atoll has one of the best remaining ecosystem dynamics. CCPs for Howland, Baker, and islands built by volcanoes some examples of Pisonia grandis Jarvis Islands and their respective 65-120 million years ago. They rainforest found in the Pacific, and Wake Atoll Preliminary Issues EAs are complete, although support shrubs and grasses a large diversity of fish species Wake is the northernmost atoll in they may be revised if needed. adapted to the arid climate at (418 species). Many nationally the Marshall Islands geological We have identified the following • Wildlife and habitat Management alternatives for the Equator and host colonies and internationally threatened, ridge and perhaps the oldest living preliminary issues that we may management. the Kingman Reef and Palmyra of 15 different breeding seabird endangered, and depleted species atoll in the world. In addition address in the Monument’s Plan. • Visitor services management. Atoll CCPs are currently in species, some with population thrive at Palmyra and Kingman, to being an active U.S. Air • Methods for protecting the • Historic and cultural resources development and we encourage sizes of international significance. including sea turtles, pearl oysters, Force airfield, the atoll provides physical, biological, and protection. you to participate in the process At these three reefs, coral cover giant clams, reef sharks, coconut important seabird and migratory cultural resources for the • Facilities maintenance. during public comment periods. and species diversity is much crabs, fishes, and dolphins. shorebird habitat, as well as long-term while providing • Scientific exploration and Johnston and Wake Atolls’ CCPs higher than in Hawai‘i or Florida. vibrant coral reefs that support high quality opportunities for research management. are scheduled to be initiated in Beyond the shallow fringing large populations of fishes in the wildlife-dependent recreation. • Develop an appropriate 2012. reefs and terraces, the slopes of refuge/monument waters. More • Impacts from past and current permitting regime for activities the extinct volcanoes drop off than 300 fish species and 100 use of military sites. in the Monument, where Monument Overview sharply to the deep floor of the coral species thrive on shallow necessary. equatorial Pacific Ocean. The coral reefs, along with giant The Monument includes seven Equatorial Countercurrent creates clams, marine turtles, and spinner islands or atolls spread across a localized, nutrient-rich upwelling dolphins. Planning Schedule vast portion of the Pacific Ocean. At the core of each area of the Elements of the MMP Currently in Progress Target Date monument is a dynamic and unique zone that is also protected through Tridacna maxima clam Jim Maragos/USFWS Release of draft CCPs for Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef Spring 2012 the National Wildlife Refuge Public review and comment for Palmyra Atoll System. and Kingman Reef draft CCPs Spring 2012 Large schools of rare melon- Final Palmyra Atoll & Kingman Reef CCPs Fall 2012 headed whales reside off both Johnston Atoll Release of public review draft MMP Elements in Common Winter 2013 Johnston is an ancient atoll. It atolls, and a species of beaked whale was recently rediscovered. is the northernmost of the Line Dates are tentative and subject to change as the planning process progresses. Updates Palmyra supports breeding Islands archipelago. Johnston Humphead wrasse / NOAA and revisions for other MMP elements will be scheduled at a later date. Anemone fish and bubble-tip anemone populations of 11 species of supports at least 45 coral species, Jim Maragos/USFWS Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 5-231 Pacific Remote Islands Honolulu, HI 96850 Marine National Monument Planning Update Number 1, September 2011

Red-footed booby and chick - USFWS