Posted on: Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Case seeks U.S. protection for N.W. Islands
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer
U.S. Rep. Ed Case yesterday proposed establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as the largest marine refuge in the world, banning all fishing within 50 miles of shore.
The proposal, contained in legislation the Hawai'i Democrat introduced in Congress yesterday, took the environmental community by surprise, but those who had read the bill said they were strongly supportive.
"This builds on the legacy begun by Teddy Roosevelt in 1909, and it extends the extraordinary, historic momentum of the state's action Friday," said Stephanie Fried, senior scientist with Environmental Defense. "It seems to be a crystal-clear reflection of public input."
Roosevelt established the 1,100 miles of islands beyond Kaua'i as a wildlife refuge. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday approved rules that would prohibit all fishing and require an entry permit for any other activities within three miles of shore in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Case said his proposal would mimic the state's restrictions, but would carry them out to 50 miles from most of the islands, and a little farther from Kure Atoll, to encompass certain seamount habitats.
"My proposal, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Refuge Act of 2005, would cover 137,000 square miles of our country's reefs, banks, seamounts and oceans, eclipsing Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Protected Area of 125,000 square miles," Case said in a statement.
Cha Smith, executive director of the Hawaiian environmental alliance KAHEA, called Case's bill "a great idea. This is true, real protection."
The organization left out of the picture is the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, which had proposed allowing limited fishing — primarily bottom fishing — to continue within the waters off the northern end of the Hawaiian archipelago. The council staff could not be reached yesterday for comment.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
