The NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands region encompasses a large percentage of the nation's coral reefs. Coral reefs are important to indigenous Pacific Island communities, including Native Hawaiians and Chamorrans, for food, cultural practices, recreation, and overall survival. In fact, the Pacific Islands location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean exposes the islands’ coral reefs to large open ocean swells, which play an important coral habitat role in structuring the coral reef community.
Our habitat protection efforts include broad research programs on the marine habitat throughout the Pacific Islands region. Our goal is to conserve, protect, and restore marine habitat and coastal ecosystems. The management objectives and priorities for the Pacific Islands are based on the Fisheries Local Action Strategy, a collaborative and locally-based efforts to decrease fishing-related impacts to coral reefs. These efforts include:
- Habitat mapping and characterization
- Physical and biological oceanography studies
- Research on a variety of marine habitat issues, including marine debris, invasive species, and pollutants
We also work to increase partnerships with other federal and local authorities. These partnerships allow us to maintain sustainable coastal ecosystems and implement strategies that minimize the introduction and impacts of alien species and marine pollution. We provide technical reviews of all proposed federal actions in coastal habitats in the Pacific Islands Region to eliminate or reduce potential negative environmental impacts on the marine habitat.
Captain Layne Nakagawa of the F/V Naomi K holding an ehu. Photo courtesy of Pacific Islands Fisheries Group/Fishing Vessel Naomi K.
