MEDIA RELEASE

Latest reports from the committee’s that are conducting a management plan update for protecting the humpback whale.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is co-managed through a partnership
between NOAA and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The sanctuary was designated by an act of Congress in 1992 to be a single-species sanctuary to protect humpback whales and their habitat.

The sanctuary has initiated the process to review, evaluate, and update its management plan and will continue to ensure a high level of public engagement throughout this process.

One of the methods to facilitate this involvement is through the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National
Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

The council allows Hawaii residents to provide advice on the sanctuary’s resource protection, research, education and outreach programs to the sanctuary superintendent.

The council, established in March 1996, is comprised of members from various local user groups, native Hawaiian
groups, conservation, science and educational organizations, county interests and members of the public.

Sanctuary Advisory Council working groups have developed management recommendations to address
priority issues identified during a 90-day public scoping period that was held in summer of 2010.

These recommendations do not reflect the endorsement of any individuals or agencies but are a result of a process
by the working groups that synthesized multiple sources of information and collectively developed and
produced these reports.

Working group reports will be presented to the full council for review and approval at the Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting open to the public Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, prior to forwarding recommendations to sanctuary management.

The recommendations do not reflect the views of the full council, the sanctuary, the state of Hawaii, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As a courtesy to the public, working group recommendation reports are available for download prior to the
council meeting in January 2012. All working group reports are listed in alphabetical order below.

For more information, contact Joseph.Paulin@noaa.gov

* Climate Change Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/climatechange_wg_report.pdf

* Ecosystem Protections Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/ecosystemprotections_wg_report.pdf

* Enforcement Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/enforcement_wg_report.pdf

* Humpback Whale Protections Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/hbwhaleprotections_wg_report.pdf

* Maritime Heritage Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/maritimeheritage_wg_report.pdf

* Native Hawaiian Culture Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/nativehawaiian_wg_report.pdf

* Ocean Literacy Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/oceanliteracy_wg_report.pdf

* Offshore Development Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/offshoredevelopment_wg_report.pdf

* Water Quality Working Group Report: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/pdfs/waterquality_wg_report.pdf

How to provide input

Talk with your Sanctuary Advisory Council constituent representative prior to the Jan. 17-18 council
meeting.

For a list of council members, visit: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/council_members.html