Welcome to the Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office
The Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office is an Ecological Services office headquartered in Honolulu. The office is divided into three major sections: Endangered Species, Habitat Conservation, and Invasive Species/Marianas Terrestrial. Employees use the best available science and sound managerial techniques to further the Service's mission to conserve, protect, and enhance wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
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Notice of 90-day Petition Finding and Initiation of Status Review
January 24, 2012
After reviewing a petition to list the ‘i‘iwi (Vestiaria coccinea) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has determined that the document presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing may be warranted, and will initiate a 12-month review of the species’ status. The 12-month finding will determine if the petitioned action is warranted.
The Service is soliciting data and other information regarding the species to ensure a comprehensive review. We request that information submitted be received by March 26, 2012.
Federal Register Notice
News Release - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Will Consider ‘I‘iwi for Protection |
| 'I'iwi on Lobelia grayana - Credit ©Daniel W. Clark |
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Recovery Plan to Recover Endangered Hawaiian Waterbirds
January 19, 2012
A revised plan that describes the actions needed to recover four species of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds was released today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This second revision updates earlier recovery plans issued in 1978 and 1985 and provides detailed guidance for numerous public and private entities engaged in the conservation of the Hawaiian duck or koloa maoli, Hawaiian coot or ‘alae ke‘oke‘o, Hawaiian common moorhen or ‘alae ‘ula, and Hawaiian stilt or ae‘o. To view the plan, click here or on the image to the left.
News Release - Plan to Recover Endangered Hawaiian Waterbirds Released
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| Image of Hawaiian Waterbirds Recovery Plan Cover |
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$549,000 in Federal Grant Monies Awarded to Restore Honu‘apo Estuary (January 3, 2012)
On January 3, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced $20.5 million in grants to support 24 projects in 12 states to conserve and restore coastal wetlands and their fish and wildlife habitat. The grants, awarded under the 2012 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, will be matched by nearly $21 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups. The grants will be used to acquire, restore or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitat. |
| Honu‘apo Park, located on the island of Hawai‘i - Photo credit Chris Swenson/USFWS |
Honu‘apo Park, located on the island of Hawai‘i, will receive $549,000 for an 11.5 acre restoration project that will include removal of invasive vegetation that is impairing water quality and quantity, sculpting of deep water areas for improved wildlife habitat, reintroduction of native vegetation, and increased predator control.
The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, in partnership with the community-based conservation group Ka ‘Ohana O Honu‘apo, proposes to initiate the first phase of restoration in the State-owned 225.5-acre park. The complex encompasses 50 acres of estuarine, subtidal, intertidal, and palustrine wetlands and adjacent coastal areas. The Honu‘apo estuary wetland is part of a unique coastal ecosystem of semi-sheltered near-shore pools, brackish ponds, and open environs. Although the wetland system supports a diversity of endemic species and microhabitats, decades of neglect and misuse have contributed to impairment of wetland functions and decreased habitat for endangered migratory birds. This estuarine wetland is also frequented by the threatened green sea turtle and serves as a nursery area for marine fishes.
The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. Funding is provided by Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue – money generated from an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.
Including the 2012 grants, the Service has awarded nearly $300 million to coastal states and territories since the program began in 1992. When the 2012 projects are complete, about 293,000 acres of habitat will have been protected, restored or enhanced as a direct result of these grants.
Coastal areas comprise less than 10 percent of the nation’s land area yet support a significant number of wildlife species, including 75 percent of migratory birds, nearly 80 percent of fish and shellfish and about half of all threatened and endangered species.
A complete list of projects funded by the 2012 grant program can be found online at: http://www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants/index.html |
Lāna‘i Meteorological Tower Project (December 7, 2011)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting public comment regarding the application of Castle and Cooke Resorts, LLC, to extend their incidental take permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The application addresses the potential take of the endangered Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis), the endangered Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudsensi), the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), and the threatened Newell’s (Townsend’s) shearwater (Puffinus auricularis newelli). These covered species may be incidentally taken due to the continued operation of up to seven meteorological towers on the island of Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i. As required by section 10(a)(2)(A) of the ESA, the Applicant has an existing Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) designed to minimize and mitigate any such take of the above covered species. Approval of the application will extend the permit by six years from its original expiration date (March 1, 2010). No incidental take has occurred to date and the required mitigation actions have been implemented pursuant to the existing HCP. There are no impacts anticipated beyond those analyzed in the original Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact, therefore, a supplemental EA was not prepared.
Please send or fax written comments to Loyal Mehrhoff, Field Supervisor, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96850, facsimile (808) 792-9581. In order to be considered, all comments must be postmarked by January 6, 2012.
Final Environmental Assessment for Issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10 (a)(1)(B) Permit for the Incidental Take of Listed Species for the Lāna‘i Meteorological Towers Project (Text without appendices)
Appendices for the Final Environmental Assessment for Issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10 (a)(1)(B) Permit for the Incidental Take of Listed Species for the Lāna‘i Meteorological Towers Project
Final Habitat Conservation Plan for the Construction and Operation of the Lāna‘i Meteorological Towers (Text without appendices)
Appendices for the Final Habitat Conservation Plan for the Construction and Operation of the Lāna‘i Meteorological Towers
Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Application Form for Incidental Take Permits Associated with a Habitat Conservation Plan
Federal Register Notice of Availability for Comment: Issuance of an Endangered Species Act Section 10 (a)(1)(B) Permit for the Incidental Take of Listed Species for the Lāna‘i Meteorological Towers Project |
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Kaheawa Pastures Wind Energy Generation Facility Permit Amendment (November 30, 2011)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today the availability of an application from Kaheawa Wind Power I, LLC, a subsidiary of First Wind Energy LLC, for an amendment to reduce the permitted level of take of the endangered Hawaiian petrel or ‘ua‘u and the threatened Newell’s shearwater or ‘a‘o covered under their incidental take permit. The documents are available for public review and comment for 30 days.
Kaheawa Pastures Wind Energy Generation Facility Habitat Conservation Plan
Amendment to the Habitat Conservation Plan
Errata Sheet - Kaheawa Pastures Wind Energy Facility Habitat Conservation
Second Amendment to Implementing Agreement
Draft Seabird Mitigation Plan for Kaheawa Wind Power Wind Energy Generation Facility and Wind Power Wind II Energy Generation Facility
Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit
Special Terms and Conditions for Permit TE118901-1
Request for Amendment to Incidental Take Permit
News Release - Kaheawa Wind Power I – Permit Amendment to Reduce the Take Of Federally Listed Species |
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Black-footed Albatross - Listing Not Warranted (October 6, 2011)
After a review of the best scientific and commercial information available, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that listing the black-footed albatross as endangered or threatened is not warranted. The result of the 12-month petition finding was published in the Federal Register today.
News Release - Endangered Species Listing Not Warranted for the Black-footed Albatross |
| Black-footed Albatrosses - Photo credit USFWS |
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| Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Auwahi Wind Power Facility (October 5, 2011)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today the availability of a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and draft Environmental Assessment (EA) submitted by Auwahi Wind Energy LLC for public review. The proposed wind power facility is located in southeastern Maui on the lower slopes of Haleakala Volcano within the southern half of the Auwahi ahupaua‘a. Auwahi Wind Energy LLC developed the draft HCP in coordination with the Service and the Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife as part of the application for an incidental take permit for species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The draft HCP and EA are available for public review and comment for 45 days.
News Release - Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for Auwahi Wind Power Facility
Available for Public Comment
Auwahi Wind Project Draft Habitat Conservation Plan
Auwahi Wind Farm Project Draft Environmental Assessment
Auwahi Wind Farm Project Implementing Agreement |
Endangered Species Listing Warranted for 7 Species of Hawaiian Yellow-faced Bees (September 6, 2011)
News Release - Endangered Species Listing Warranted for 7 Species of Hawaiian Yellow-faced Bees
Federal Register Notice - 12-Month Finding on 5
Petitions To List 7 Species of
Hawaiian Yellow-faced Bees as
Endangered
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Nihoa Millerbird Translocation Project (September 2, 2011)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in partnership with Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and American Bird Conservancy (ABC), will begin a historic scientific expedition on September 2, 2011, to create a second population of the endangered Nihoa Millerbird. To learn more about the project, click here.
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Nihoa Millerbird - Credit Robby Kohley |
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Public Comments Sought on Proposal to Protect 23 O‘ahu Species (August 1, 2011)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to add 23 species - 20 plants and 3 Hawaiian damselflies - found on the island of O‘ahu to the federal endangered species list. The Service also proposes to designate critical habitat for these 23 species, to designate critical habitat for 2 plant species that are already listed as endangered, and revise critical habitat for 99 plant species already listed as endangered or threatened. To view the files, click on the links below.
Proposed Rule published in the Federal Register
News Release - Public Comments Sought on Proposal to Protect 23 O‘ahu Species and Designate Critical Habitat for 124 Species
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| Tetraplasandra lydgatei Credit Ane Bakutis |
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For more information:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office
300 Ala Moana Boulevard
Room 3-122, Box 50088
Honolulu, HI 96850
(808) 792-9400
(808) 792-9580 fax
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