Return to Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge

Four brown boobies rest on top an abandoned stone building on Baker Island. The sun is hidden behind them, casting a glowing halo.

About Us

Updated November 6, 2026

Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974 and lies just north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean and about 1,830 nautical miles southwest of Honolulu. On January 6, 2009, the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument was established, which includes Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge within its boundaries.

Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge includes the emergent and submerged lands and waters out to 12 nautical miles, for a total of 413,416 acres (418 terrestrial acres). The Howland and Baker Islands National Wildlife Refuge System Unit of the Monument includes the emergent and submerged lands and waters out to 50 nautical miles, for a total of 12,764,916 acres.

Baker Island borders along an ancient coral reef and massive extinct volcano that emerges from the deep ocean floor. The equatorial undercurrent pushes nutrient-rich waters up into the sunlit zone, thereby increasing marine productivity that many marine species benefit from. This important phenomenon may be limited only to Howland, Baker, Jarvis Islands, and a few other islands in the Pacific because of their location on the equator.

Baker Island is uninhabited, and entry is by permit only.

Our Mission

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

The specific purpose state for establishment of Baker identified in the biological ascertainment report at the time of transfer to the USFWS (1973) states, “...the restoration and preservation of the complete ecosystem, terrestrial and marine. Priority must be given to allowing seabird nesting colonies to reestablish themselves on Baker so they would eventually reach the great numbers which were present there prior to human occupancy and abuse of the island during the past 125 years.”

Our History

March 14, 1903 – President Theodore Roosevelt implements the first National Wildlife Refuge on Pelican Island, Florida.
June 27, 1974 - The secretary of the interior designates Baker Island and its territorial sea, extending three nautical miles, as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System to be “administered under the general regulations for the National Wildlife Refuge System published in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations”(39 FR 27930) .
January 6, 2009 - The Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument was established, which expanded the protected boundaries of Baker Island to 50 nautical miles.

Our Work

The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge.

Due to its remote nature, Baker Island does not receive active management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with our partners at NOAA monitor the island for seabird activity and nesting, invasive species, and the overall health of the surrounding reef.

Refuges use a wide range of land management tools based on the best science available. Some refuges use prescribed fires to mimic natural fires that would have cleared old vegetation from the land helping native plants regenerate and local wildlife to thrive. Other refuges contain Wilderness areas where land is largely managed passively. The management tools used are aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach where both wildlife and people will benefit. At this field station our conservation toolbox includes a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officers have a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. Officers help visitors understand and obey wildlife protection laws. They work closely with state and local government offices to enforce federal, state and refuge regulations that protect migratory birds and other species from illegal take. Some other duties include patrolling closed areas or wilderness areas, maintaining relationships with neighboring landowners, maintaining refuge boundaries and participating in public events related to refuge issues. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA in regards to illegal trespassing or fishing violations within the monument.

Law enforcement issues should be referred to the deputy refuge manager or refuge manager.

You may also report violations to our "TIPS" line 1-844-FWS-TIPS (379-8477).

Baker Island is uninhabited. Due to its remote location in the Central Pacific and to give adequate protection to it's native habitat and wildlife, Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge is not accessible to the general public. Refuge access is solely managed through the issuance of a Special Use Permit when the activity is deemed compatible and appropriate with the purposes of refuge establishment.

Most access for refuge staff to Baker has only been possible through the cooperation and participation with partner agencies such as NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Baker Island’s remoteness compels a growing list of partners and cooperators to be kept informed of and included in planning and management activities at Baker. Activities that staff and partner agencies/organizations share include:

expedition planning
collaborative research projects
protection of trust resources

Many research interests are shared between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA scientists, and collaborative research projects have been conducted in the past. Additionally, NOAA and the service share trust resource responsibilities for marine turtles.

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