Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument: America’s Galapagos
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument: America’s Galapagos :
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument, the Monument encompasses the islands and surrounding waters, forming the largest marine wildlife reserve in the world. 139,000 square miles of ocean has been set aside for protection. But it has taken the efforts of two presidents and more to come to this point. This national monument is so remote that only two dozen people at a time will be able to visit, and only here in Midway, one of two populated islands. land surface is just 3,328 acres, rather it is the beautiful corral surrounding the islands which covers more than 5,000 square miles in hues ranging from magenta to aquamarine. It is here that the living fossil: endangered Hawaiian monk seal is found, the archipelago also has some of the chief densities in the world of so-called apex predators, the sharks, groupers and jacks, whose numbers are being depleted by the biggest predator of all, man. If all fishing stops, scientists say, these reefs could be changed back into a truly pristine state within a decade. Then what stood in the way? Mr. Inouye’s and NOAA’s Unwillingness to curb fishing. What Mr. Babbitt feels about this: They were afraid that this is the beginning of a slippery slope, leading the American public to understand that our oceans are in serious trouble from over fishing and that having started in one place, we will expand our vision to stronger regulation of the entire ocean. Well the Midway atoll, (ring like formation of reefs) is home to two million birds for much of each year, including the world’s largest population of Laysan Albatrosses, or “gooney birds”. Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, 250 species of fish and spinner dolphins frequent Midway’s crystal blue lagoon. Now they have a safer home to live in. Via: The New York Times
Tags: 250 species of fish and spinner dolphins, America's Galapagos, Fishing, green sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument, Travel
