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Home My WebLink AboutRES 167 Draft 02 2004-2006 MtY •t M4 ~'`y ^'4 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 167 U5 (Draft 2) A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF COMPLETE AND PERMANENT PROTECTION OF THE NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS E('OSYSTEM. WHEREAS, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) are the most remote, large- scale coral reef ecosystem on earth; and WHERF,A5, the NWHI are of great significance in Hawaiian culture and history; and WHEREAS, the cold waters of the NWHI and the limited nutrient cycling make Che NWHI ecosystem fragile; and WHERF,AS, the NWHI must be able to provide adequate support to endemic, rare, threatened, and endangered species including: • Hawaiian monk seats, • Green, Hawksbill, and Leatherback marine turtles, • migratory sea birds, • ancient coral colonies, and • fish populations, many of which are depleted from the waters of the main Hawaiian Islands; and WHEREAS, the N WHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (Reserve) was created by federal Executive Order 13178 dated December 4, 2000, as amended by federal Executive Order 13196 dated January 18, 2001; and WHEREAS, the National Marine Sanctuary Program has initiated the process to designate the Reserve as a National Marine Sanctuary under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to secure comprehensive protection and enhance public awareness of resources within the Reserve; and WHEREAS, public input has demanded the strongest possible protections for this special place; and WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Hawaii and the, Chair of the Hawaii State Boazd of Land and Natural Resources, on September 30, 2005, signed regulations that establish all State waters in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a mazine refuge. This puts all State waters from Nihoa island to Kure Atoll into a limited access, no extraction marine refuge; and WHEREAS, such a Refuge reflects public-input by guaranteeing Native Hawaiian cultural, religious, and subsistence practices, while prohibiting all commercial and recreational fishing in the state waters of the NWHI; and WI-IEIZEAS, consistent and complementary regulation is essential throughout both the State and federal waters in the NWI II to ensure this special place is completely protected; and ~6'>l-LEREAS, Congressional legislation is the paramount means of guaranteeing complete and permanent protection of the entire NWHI ecosystem; and WIIEItEAS, a National Marine Sanctuary protecting the NWHI ecosystem would benefit I~awai`i's international reputation for ocean protection by creating the largest marine protected area in the world. NO~V, T~IEItEFOI~E, I3E IT I?.ESOLVED by the Council of the County of Hawaii that leaders at all levels of government are urged to advocate U.S. Congressional action that permanently and completely protects the NWHI, by prohibiting all commercial activities, while protecting Native Hawaiian cultural, religious, and subsistence practices, and allowing only limited and appropriate scientific and educational activities in the NWHI. BE IT FUII;THEI<t RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Hawaii to support immediate administrative action by the National Marine Sanctuary Program to prohibit all extractive uses in the proposed federal sanctuary in the NWHI, while protecting the traditional and cultural practices in the Brea. ICE IT FINALLY IaESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution be sent to the Governor of the State of Ilawai`i, Ilawai`i's Congressional Delegation to the U.S. Congress, the Chief Administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Chairperson of the Council on Environmental Quality. Dated at Hilo , Hawaii, this 5th day of October , 2005. INTROD COUNCIL BER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX H110, Hawal`i ARAKAKI X RIGA X I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOFFMANN the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the HOLSCHUH County of Hawaii on October 5 , 2.00 5 X IKEDA X ISBELL ATTEST: .IACOBSON PILAGO X SAFARIK d' ~l~j'---' 6 0 3 0 ~~"UVV L ` ~ Reference: C-442.1 COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. g~ (Draft 2)