Establishment
On June 15, 2006 U.S. President George W. Bush established Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and on August 26, 2016, President Obama significantly expanded the monument under the Antiquities Act of 1906. President Obama quadrupled the managed areas from around 225,000 square kilometers, to 1.2 million square kilometers of water and submerged land. Marking this Marine National Monument as the largest conservation area of the United States and one of the largest in the world. This area of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is recognized for their cultural and natural significance. These areas are significant in Polynesian societies as a pathway of connection and a preservation of their cultural traditions. Papahānaumokuākea is home to several unique geological formations like its hotspot of volcanism, large presence of atolls, and chains of seamounts. Deep water trawling, and deep sea water mining makes irreversible damage here, and harms what we have discovered and even environments that have not yet been discovered. Biologically, Papahānaumokuākea is home to several threatened and endangered species, ranging from the Hawaiian monk seal to the green sea turtle. However, this area has been deeply affected by overfishing, leading to multiple species being essentially wiped out leading to extinction.
In order to create a marine protected area, the ecosystem has to be mapped and managed to control anthropogenic activities. The management of this PMNM is structured between the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration through the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the state of Hawai’i. Together, these organizations are responsible to protect the area from commercial activities, like fishing and deep-sea mining, and limited activities with a permit; recreational fishing and the removal of resources for cultural practices and scientific purposes. Long-line fishing has proved to be one of the most destructive anthropogenic activities, specifically in this area as high numbers, more than 250,000 sharks have been caught as bycatch in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in the past 25 years. By limiting the amount of commercial fishing, this reduces the risk of bycatch, vessel strikes, and ghost lines.
Overall, this groundbreaking MPA has created a model for the effectiveness of protection. Surveys have shown that Papahānaumokuākea is the healthiest and least disturbed coral reef in U.S. waters, due to the decrease in coral disease. The waters have bounced back with a high abundance of top predators, around five times as much fish biomass, and around fourteen more shark biomass, specifically compared to fished areas. Populations of marine mammals, turtles, and seabirds have been positively monitored, and even increases in migrational species. Fecundity has increased, as female fish are studied to be larger and older, creating more and higher quality eggs. Biomass is projected to continue exponentially increasing for decades to come. The commercial fishing regulations are evident; only 5% of hooks were deployed in these areas in 2014.
In conclusion, while the effects of climate change seem daunting and inescapable, seeing positive restorations is hopeful. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument proves that the ocean is resilient and furthermore reinforces the goal of 30% of the ocean protected by 2030.