Marine Reserve Advisory Council to Meet

NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM

RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD

JANUARY 25, 2016 IN HONOLULU

The Reserve Advisory Council for NOAA’s Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (now part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument) will meet on Monday, January 25, 2016. The Reserve Advisory Council will discuss and receive updates on Monument activities and hear briefings on related efforts, including agency updates. The meeting will be held on O‘ahu and is open to the public.

WHAT:            NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council Meeting

WHEN:            January 25, 2016, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE:         NOAA/Inouye Regional Center

1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818

Ko‘olau Haka Conference Room, #1564

WHO:              Twenty-four Advisory Council members representing broad stakeholder constituencies, including Native Hawaiian, research, conservation, commercial and recreational fishing, ocean-related tourism, education, and state and federal agencies. The Reserve Advisory Council is an advisory body to NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

A blue van driven by Monument staff will be at the USS Arizona Memorial commercial vehicle passenger drop off area (1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu HI 96818) between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. for members of the public who wish to attend the meeting. Members of the public must bring a valid picture ID for clearance onto Ford Island. Parking is free of charge at the USS Arizona Memorial and nearby Rainbow Marina.

A copy of the meeting agenda will be available ten days before the meeting at http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/council/meeting.html or by calling Allison Ikeda at 808-725-5818.

Established in 2000, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations on managing and protecting the reserve. Serving in a volunteer capacity, the council members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the single largest fully-protected conservation area under the U.S. flag, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. It encompasses 139,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean (362,073 square kilometers) – an area larger than all the country’s national parks combined. Visit us atwww.papahanaumokuakea.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Papahanaumokuakea.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us athttp://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.