Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuges

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Pacific Reefs National Wildlife Refuge Complex U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 5-231 Box 50187 Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef Honolulu, HI 96850 National Wildlife Refuges Planning Update Number 1, March 2011

Red-footed booby - Laura Beauregard/USFWS Help Us Plan for the Future! # Over the next year, the U.S. Fish which will be incorporated into and Wildlife Service (Service) an overarching Pacific Remote How Do I Contact the Service or Provide Comments? will be seeking input from the Islands Marine National public, interested agencies, Monument Management Plan. To contact the Service or request information: and organizations regarding their interests, concerns, and This is the first in a series U.S. Mail: Laura Beauregard, Refuge Planner viewpoints about important of planning updates to keep Hawaii & Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex refuge management issues. you informed and invite your 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 5-231 participation. As we begin Honolulu, HI 96850 This information will be helpful this planning process, we are as we develop a Comprehensive provided the opportunity to Telephone: 808.792.9558 Conservation Plan (CCP) for look at our habitat management Palmyra Atoll and Kingman and public programs from fresh Reef National Wildlife Refuges, perspectives. Email: [email protected] Barringtonia asiatica Alex Weggman/USFWS Send comments to:

Email: [email protected]. Please include “Palmyra-Kingman CCP” in the subject line. Your participation is critical to the success of this effort – we want to hear from you! Visit our web sites: www.fws.gov/palmyraatoll See page 6 for information about submitting your comments. www.fws.gov/kingmanreef

Coral garden with butterfly fish - Jim Maragos/USFWS 2 5 National Wildlife What? Preliminary Issues to be Considered

Refuges are places where wildlife comes first. The National In preparing the CCP, a range of Wildlife and Habitat Resources Protection of Natural, Historic, Wildlife Refuge System comprises the world’s largest collection possible alternative management • Terrestrial habitat protection and Cultural Resources of lands and waters set aside specifically for wildlife and provides approaches will be explored and and restoration (for the • Threats to the atoll and important habitat for native plants, fish, and animals. The Refuge evaluated, including current Pisonia forest, sea turtle reefs (unauthorized System is administered by the Department of the Interior’s Fish management practices. The nesting, shorebirds) trespass, illegal fishing, and Wildlife Service for the following mission: effects of the various alternatives • Marine habitat protection and marine debris, shipwrecks, on the biological and cultural restoration (for coral reefs, and invasive species) “To administer a national network of lands and waters for the resources will be evaluated in giant clams, marine mammals, • Public awareness and conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of an Environmental Assessment sea turtles, seabirds and fishes) understanding the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the in accordance with the National • Climate change United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Environmental Policy Act. Visitor Services Activities Americans.” • Public access Other topics The planning team has • Wildlife observation and • Scientific exploration and Butterfly fish - Alex Weggmar/USFWS identified some potential issues photography research to be considered during CCP • Environmental education and • Monitoring and enforcement Refuge Overview development. We would like to interpretation • Permitting (entry into either Part of the Line Islands chain, Palmyra Atoll National acres of coral reef habitat. It is the hear your comments on these • Catch and release bone fishing refuge is by special use Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Wildlife Refuge only undeveloped and unpopulated issues, and any other topics of permit only) Reef are remnants of volcanoes wet atoll left in the tropical Pacific concern. Please submit your from some 65-120 million years A circular string of 25 islets, under U.S. jurisdiction. comments in writing by April 30, ago. Many nationally and Palmyra Atoll has one of the most 2011. internationally threatened, diverse and spectacular coral reef Palmyra’s terrestrial habitats endangered, and depleted species systems in the world. Over 130 support one of the largest thrive at Palmyra and Kingman, species of stony corals populate remaining stands of Pisonia including sea turtles, pearl oysters, the reefs. About 1,000 miles south- forest in the Pacific and several giant clams, reef sharks, coconut southwest of Honolulu, the atoll other native varieties of ferns and crabs, fishes, and dolphins. Large is the only nesting habitat for shrubs. The atoll is also home to Tentative Planning Schedule schools of rare melon-headed migratory seabirds and shorebirds the world’s largest land-based whales reside off both atolls, and within 450,000 square miles of invertebrate, the coconut crab. The a species of beaked whale was ocean. It consists of about 680 lush vegetation supports over a Planning Step: Target Date: recently rediscovered. acres of above-water tropical million birds of 29 species. Palmyra forest lands and 515,232 acres of supports 10 nesting seabird Planning Update 1 issued...... Spring 2011 submerged lands and open water, species, including the second including approximately 16,094 largest red-footed booby colony in Planning Update 2 issued...... Summer 2011 the world, the largest black noddy colony in the Central Pacific, and Draft CCP/EIS...... Winter 2011 large numbers of bristle-thighed curlews. Public Review/Comment on Draft CCP/EIS...... Winter 2011 Palmyra’s history is long and Final CCP...... Summer 2012 colorful. Its first recorded sighting was in 1798, by Captain Edmond Fanning, and it was Schedule dates are tentative and subject to change as the planning process officially discovered in 1802 by progresses. Captain Sawle of the American ship Palmyra. In 1859, Dr. G.P. Judd of the brig Josephine took possession of the atoll for the Coconut crab - Laura Beauregard/USFWS United States and the American 3 Guano Company. Three years later, Kingman Reef National goatfishes, butterflyfishes, King Kamehameha IV claimed Wildlife Refuge parrotfishes, and tuna. Also possession for the Kingdom recorded were 102 species of of Hawai‘i, but in 1889, Great Only 3 feet in elevation, Kingman corals, including an undescribed Britain claimed the atoll. In 1898, Reef lies 932 miles southwest of species of fingercoral and President McKinley annexed the Hawai‘i. Crystal clear oceanic spectacular assemblages of Territory of Hawai‘i, specifically waters and vibrant coral reefs mushroom coral, fire coral, table mentioning Palmyra, to the United support a spectacular diversity coral, and plate coral. Several States, but Palmyra was excluded of corals and other marine species of giant clams can be found from the Hawai‘i State boundaries invertebrates, algae, fishes, in relatively large numbers in in 1959. Palmyra hosted a 6,000- marine mammals, sea turtles, and waters of Kingman Reef. man Naval Air Station in World migratory seabirds. Kingman is War II, complete with dock and known to be the most undisturbed The first recorded western airfield. coral reef within the U.S., complete contact at Kingman Reef was by with a greater proportion of an American seaman, Captain The Refuge was established in apex predators than at any other Fanning, in 1798. The reef was January 2001 by the Secretary studied coral reef ecosystem in the named after Captain Kingman, of the Interior and includes world. who visited in 1853. The United submerged lands and associated States annexed the reef in 1922 waters out to 12 nautical miles Although no permanent land and in 1934 delegated jurisdiction from the atoll. The Nature is found here, two small 2- and to the Navy. Its sheltered lagoon Conservancy of Hawai‘i manages 1-acre emergent coral rubble served as a way station for Pan a small research camp on spits occur on the northeastern American Flying Clippers on Cooper Island for the Palmyra and southeastern sides of the Hawai‘i to American Samoa flights Atoll Research Consortium. reef. In addition to the 3 acres during the 1930s. Through this consortium of ten of emergent reef, Kingman Reef institutions from the United States National Wildlife Refuge includes On September 1, 2000, the and New Zealand, scientists 483,754 acres of submerged reefs Department of the Interior conduct research pertaining to and associated waters, out to its 12 accepted restoration of its biodiversity, conservation, natural nautical mile boundary. administrative jurisdiction history, ecosystem restoration, over Kingman Reef from the marine ecosystem dynamics, Coral reef ecologists reported 168 Department of the Navy; biogeochemistry, climate dynamics, species of fishes including sharks, Secretary’s Order 3223 signed and global warming. rays, eels, groupers, jacks, January 18, 2001, established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge.

Reef pool and clam garden Jim Maragos/USFWS Pacific Reefs National Wildlife Refuge Complex U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 5-231 Box 50187 Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef Honolulu, HI 96850 National Wildlife Refuges Planning Update Number 1, March 2011

Coral garden with butterfly fish - Jim Maragos/USFWS