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MEDIA RELEASE From the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary: As many of you know, in 2010 the sanctuary began a multi-year process to review and update the current management plan. The management plan review process (MPR) includes many consultations with community members, including Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, scientists, educators, ocean users, and state [...]

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This year, the Sanctuary Ocean Count will be conducted at over 60 different shore sites around the islands of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, and O‘ahu (see online site descriptions). Counts will be conducted the last Saturday of January, February, and March. Select the date(s) you would like to take part in and register online today!

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MEDIA RELEASE Register now to volunteer and count the number of humpback whales that can be seen around the islands during a four-hour period and record their behavior. Register online for Oahu, Hawaii and Kauai events. The sanctuary is recruiting a limited number of site leaders, who must be able to participate in all three [...]

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MEDIA RELEASE Latest reports from the committee’s that are conducting a management plan update for protecting the humpback whale. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is co-managed through a partnership between NOAA and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The sanctuary was designated by an act of Congress in 1992 to [...]

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To kick things off this Wednesday, December 14, Justin Viezbicke, Hawai‘i Island Programs Coordinator for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary will follow this with a special “45-ton talk” on humpback whales at 11 a.m.

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MEDIA RELEASE Aaaaaaaaand they’re back! On Monday (Sept. 26) morning, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary received word from Sea Quest tour operator Captain Tony Roensch of a humpback whale yearling in Honaunau Bay. The boat was witness to two tail slaps, the first confirmed whale sighting this season. NOAA is reminding boaters [...]

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MEDIA RELEASE NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has compiled a report listing 11 priority issues identified by the public during the scoping period of the sanctuary’s management plan review process. The priority issues include humpback whale protection; ecosystem protection; enforcement; offshore development; native Hawaiian culture; ocean literacy and water quality. During a [...]

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MEDIA RELEASE More than 570 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island for Saturday’s annual Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. Participants tallied humpback whale sightings and documented the animals’ surface behavior during the survey. The sanctuary, which is managed by NOAA, protects humpback whales and [...]

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MEDIA RELEASE NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary announced 10 new primary members and nine alternate members to serve on its sanctuary advisory council. The new appointees bring a valuable range of experience to the council, which provides sanctuary staff with input and recommendations on sanctuary programs and management. “The Sanctuary Advisory Council [...]

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MEDIA RELEASE NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has announced the appointment of Malia Chow as the new superintendent of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Chow has worked for NOAA for the last 10 years. She currently is the sanctuary’s Management Plan Review coordinator. Previously, she was a policy analyst for the Northwestern [...]

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MEDIA RELEASE The management plan review process for NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is underway, and the public is encouraged to participate by providing comments to the sanctuary. The public comment period, which began in July, will continue through Oct. 16. The sanctuary is encouraging public input on a proposal to expand [...]

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MEDIA RELEASE NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for nine primary seats and nine alternate seats on its advisory council, which ensures public input into sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent. The sanctuary is accepting applications for primary and alternate seats representing Commercial Shipping, Whale Watching, Ocean [...]

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