NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 8, 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 onWednesday, June 8, 2016. The Reserve Advisory Council will discuss the proposal previously made by several individuals to expand Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The meeting will be held on O‘ahu and is open to the public.

WHAT:            NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council Meeting

WHEN:            June 8, 2016, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

WHERE:         NOAA Fisheries, 1139 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu (near Uncle’s, through a separate entrance, on the second floor) Suite 220, Conference Room

Free parking is available in the large lot adjacent to Nimitz Highway

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.

The meeting room is accessible by the public. A copy of the meeting agenda will be available before the meeting athttp://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.