Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

President George W. Bush established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument under the Antiquities Act, protecting approximately 139,793 square miles of marine ecosystem. The proclamation creates detailed management structures, prohibits oil and gas exploration, phases out commercial fishing over 5 years, mandates vessel monitoring systems, and establishes permitting systems for research, Native Hawaiian practices, and limited special uses.