Designate a Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Surfrider Foundation is advocating for the establishment of a National Marine Sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands, south of the main Hawaiian islands. A sanctuary designation would allow NOAA to augment the existing protections for the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument with additional management tools, and to conserve additional areas outside the monument's existing boundary. Surfrider believes that a sanctuary designation is necessary to ensure the lasting stewardship of the outstanding natural resources and cultural heritage of the submerged lands and waters surrounding the Pacific Remote Islands.

In May, 2023, Surfrider submitted formal comments to NOAA in support of a Pacific Remote Islands Sanctuary, and urged the agency to conduct scoping for a designation with boundaries that extend to the full limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Howland and Baker Islands and Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll. The region surrounding the Pacific Remote Islands includes ecologically significant marine habitats, spawning and feeding grounds, as well as an array of seamounts with exceptional value for their biodiversity. Notable marine life includes skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna species, as well as sharks and other predators that play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and resilience of the ecosystem.

A Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary would also protect and celebrate the Indigenous culture of the region. For centuries, these islands were navigated by Native Hawaiians, Chamorro, and other Indigenous Peoples. Such voyages connected communities across the vast Pacific, with wayfinding based on the stars, winds, and currents. More recently, the bravery and sacrifice of the Hui Panalā'au—a group of 130 young men, mostly Native Hawaiian - helped secure America's territorial claim to Jarvis, Baker, and Howland Islands during World War II. A sanctuary designation would honor this rich Indigenous history, while providing a platform for co-management approaches. As part of the designation, the area should be renamed through a culturally appropriate process that honors the ancestral significance of the region.

Surfrider is proud to support the PRI Coalition’s nomination to designate a new national marine sanctuary that will encompass the existing Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) National Marine Monument. We look forward to supporting a successful sanctuary designation process through public outreach, advocacy and policy recommendations.