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Conserving Wildlife:   Management

Verbisina removal
Workers dilligently clear noxious weeds
to maintain natural bird breeding habitat
Conservation of fish and wildlife at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge presents some unusual management challenges. Nearly a century of human occupation has altered the land irreversibly while, at the same time, protecting lagoon and nearshore waters from commercial exploitation.
The principal refuge management objective on land is to enhance the quality of habitat for the full diversity of nesting seabird species. This will be accomplished by preventing the reintroduction of rats, by controlling noxious plants and by replanting specific areas with native vegetation. Several steps are also underway to minimize human activities that adversely impact fish and wildlife. Examples include the gradual elimination of overhead wiring, the modification of lights that disorient night-flying birds and the timing of construction or repair activities to reduce wildlife impacts. Some particularly important beaches have been declared "off limits" to encourage undisturbed use of these areas by seals. Examples of Successful Habitat Restoration (pdf).

In the marine environment, nearshore areas adjacent to closed beaches have been closed to recreational boating. All fishing within the fringing reef has been designated "catch and release", both to promote conservation of fish populations and to minimize the risk of ciguatera fish poisoning of humans. Impacts of expanding recreational activities within and outside the reef will be monitored and additional areas set aside on a rotational basis if determined appropriate.

Recreational activities at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge are governed by a draft Public Use Plan, prepared in April, 1996. This Plan, and an accompanying Supplemental Environmental Assessment, are under revision. Public use programs are also influenced by Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge: Policy and Rules Handbook and the recently published Regulations Governing Conduct on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The latter document is a special criminal and civil code of regulations for the refuge that replaces the Navy's Code which terminated when the Naval Air Facility was closed.


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     Last Modified: May 2, 2007.