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Northwest Hawaiian Islands

Discover the ecological significance of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, its diverse marine life, cultural importance, and threats such as marine pollution and invasive species. Learn about conservation efforts and the impact of human activities on this pristine environment.

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Northwest Hawaiian Islands

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  1. Northwest Hawaiian Islands Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

  2. Marine pollution: nets and plastic debris Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

  3. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument • Created by President Bush in 2006 • Encompasses 137,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean (105,564 square nautical miles) - an area larger than all the country's national parks combined.

  4. The Monument is part of your natural heritage! • The monument benefits from the most stringent environmental protection and ongoing scientific research • The extensive coral reefs found in Papahānaumokuākea - truly the rainforests of the sea - are home to over 7,000 marine species! • It is a place of great cultural significance to the Hawaiian people

  5. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands • They are part of the Hawaiian Ridge-Emperor Seamounts chain. • The chain extends some 3,700 miles from the island of Hawaii to the Aleutian Trench off the coast of Siberia.

  6. Bathymetric Profile of Hawaiian Emperor Chain

  7. Home to 7000 marine species

  8. Bird Nesting Sites Laysan Island Brown Noddie Laysan duck Red footed boobie Laysan finch Fairy Tern Laysan albatross Sooty tern

  9. Habitats

  10. Fish in NWHI (low endemism) Synchiropus kinmeiensis Epigonius devaneyi Generalized pictures Scorpaenopsis pluralis

  11. Niihau

  12. Marine pollution: nets and plastic debris Laysan Island hypersaline lake (120-140o/oo) Large bird rookery and guano mining In 1857, reported 800,000 birds.

  13. Pearl & Hermes Atoll

  14. Midway Atoll

  15. Kure Atoll • Kure Atoll is the farthest island group from Honolulu (about 1,400 miles).   • The atoll is comprised of a circular reef 5 miles in diameter and the largest island (Green in photo above) is only 1.5 miles long.  • Mined for guano (bird manure) by Australian Copra & Guano Ltd. from 1876 until 1936. 

  16. Threats to NWHI • Human Impact • invasive species, • bottom fishing • lobster trap fishing • ship-based pollution • ship strike risks • marine debris • research diving • research equipment installation • wildlife sacrifice for research • Global Warming • increased ultraviolet radiation • ocean acidification • ocean temperature anomalies relevant to disease outbreaks and coral bleaching • sea level rise.

  17. Invasive Terrestrial Species Rats (eradicated on some islands) Verbesina encelioidesGolden crown beard Cenchrus echinatus Pheidole megacephala big-headed ants Schistocerca grasshopper

  18. Invasive Marine Species Christmas tree hydroid Snowflake coral Balanus reticulatus Orange striped sea anemone Blue lined snapper Hypnea

  19. Documented distribution of Carijoa riisei and Hypnea musciformisin the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Main Hawaiian Islands.

  20. Documented distribution of nonindigenous and invasive species in the NWHI

  21. Ship Wrecks Casitas 2005

  22. Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Jet fuel storage tank Midway Atoll (lead) Black plastic sheet Midway Atoll (lead) Midway Atoll (jet fuel spill) Droop wing in albatross chick

  23. Marine pollution: nets and plastic debris Laysan albatross Laysan ducks Sooty tern Laysan finch

  24. Marine pollution: nets and plastic debris Laysan Island

  25. Marine pollution: nets and plastic debris Bits and pieces of plastic are collected at sea and deposited on the Laysan Lake shoreline

  26. Albatross Chick

  27. Even in the most remote places on earth… • Marine debris piles up • The Northwest Hawaiian Islands are part of the most isolated island chain in the world but… • Ocean currents can carry debris for thousands of miles and… • Plastic debris can last for decades!

  28. Marine Debris & Entanglement

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