Marine Protected Species of the Hawaiian Islands
Pacific Islands species lists under NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction from the Hawaiian Islands.
Marine Mammals
All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Those identified under the endangered species listing are also protected under the Endangered Species Act.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ESA Listing Status |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus | Endangered |
| False Killer Whale - Hawaiian Insular | Pseudorca crassidens | Endangered |
| Fin Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | Endangered |
| North Pacific Right Whale | Eubalaena japonica | Endangered |
| Sei Whale | Balaenoptera borealis | Endangered |
| Sperm Whale | Physeter macrocephalus | Endangered |
| Hawaiian Monk Seal | Neomonachus schauinslandi | Endangered |
Sea Turtles
All sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ESA Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Central North Pacific Green Turtle | Chelonia mydas | Threatened |
| Hawksbill Turtle | Eretmochelys imbricata | Endangered |
| Leatherback Turtle | Dermochelys coriacea | Endangered |
| North Pacific Loggerhead Turtle | Caretta caretta | Endangered |
| Olive Ridley Turtle | Lepidochelys olivacea | Threatened |
Fish
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ESA Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Manta Ray | Mobula birostris | Threatened |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | Carcharhinus longimanus | Threatened |
Invertebrates
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ESA Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Coral | Acropora globiceps1 | Threatened |
| Fluted Giant Clam* | Tridacna squamosa | Proposed threatened2 |
| True Giant Clam* | Tridacna gigas | Proposed endangered |
1 Only within the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and not the main Hawaiian Islands.
2 Proposed threatened, but under section 4(e) of the ESA for similarity of appearance (89 FR 60498).
*Both these species were introduced for aquaculture.
Critical Habitat
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| False Killer Whale - Hawaiian Insular | Pseudorca crassidens | Designated |
| Green Turtle | Chelonia mydas | Proposed |
| Hawaiian Monk Seal | Neomonachus schauinslandi | Designated |
| Pacific Coral | - | Proposed |
More Information
- Find A Species and learn more about their biology and population status, where they live, the threats they face, and how we are conserving and studying each species.
- Marine protected species of American Samoa
- Marine protected species of the Mariana Islands