The Biological Resources of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's Environmental Impact Statement

Open Access
- Author:
- Leshak, Andrea Lynn
- Area of Honors:
- Environmental Resource Management
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Robert David Shannon, Thesis Supervisor
Robert David Shannon, Thesis Supervisor
John Charles Becker, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- environmental protection
law
policy
management plan - Abstract:
- As an isolated archipelago, the main Hawaiian Islands constitute a unique ecological setting and a prime habitat for endemic species. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (sanctuary) encompasses five marine protected areas within the main Hawaiian Islands. Within these waters and the waters beyond these boundaries reside species and habitat of great ecological, cultural, and economic value. While the current purpose of the sanctuary is to protect humpback whales and their habitat, the sanctuary may also play a significant role in the protection of additional threatened and endangered species, important habitat, and even entire ecosystems. As the sanctuary undergoes a management plan review, a process required by law that will result in an updated management plan for the sanctuary, the protection of additional species will likely be considered. This report describes the biological resources within and beyond the boundaries of the sanctuary, examines threats to each biological resource, and provides possible management approaches for each biological resource. Specifically, the report will examine humpback whales, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, false killer whales, Hawaiian monk seals, and sea turtles. In its scope and supporting research, the report also provides the groundwork for the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be written during the sanctuary‟s management plan review process. In particular, the research on the biological resources may be useful in preparing the Affected Environment section of the EIS while the research on management approaches may be useful in preparing the Range of Alternatives of the EIS.