Plan is first step toward opening a "window" to the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument
HONOLULU, HI ? A draft plan that would allow a regularly scheduled visitor program to resume on Midway Atoll is being released today for public review. The draft plan proposes a small-scale visitor program on this remote atoll next year, primarily for wildlife viewing, photography, environmental education, and interpretation of the atoll's unique historic and wildlife resources.
"We are very excited about the possibility of welcoming more visitors to Midway Atoll in the near future," said Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge manager Barry Christenson. "As the only atoll currently open to the public, Midway serves as a ?window? to the new Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument."
When completed, the visitor services plan would allow up to 30 overnight guests on Midway at any one time during 2007, and possibly higher numbers in the future. The number of guests would be primarily limited by the availability of lodging and transportation to the atoll. A small number of private sailboats and cruise ships would also be allowed to stop at Midway for short periods of time.
Visitors would be offered guided interpretive history, wildlife, snorkeling, and kayaking tours; opportunities to help restore habitat and historic resources; and time to explore Midways trails and photograph the wildlife and scenery. Workshops in environmental education would be offered for teachers, and opportunities to support college-level courses or educational camps will be explored. New interpretive exhibits and a museum also are envisioned.
The plan also outlines visitor fees, permit requirements, staffing, and projects to be completed. The plan contains several appendices, including draft compatibility determinations required under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended; a draft environmental assessment of the visitor program; and a variety of background materials.
"We began developing this plan last winter, prior to the designation of the monument, and we are committed to reopening a regularly scheduled visitor program in 2007," Christenson said. "This plan will be relatively short-term in duration, and will likely be replaced by a more comprehensive monument management plan after about a year."
Midway Atoll is located about 1,250 miles northwest of Honolulu. Within the monument, it is designated as the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, which also overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and the Battle of Midway National Memorial. The draft plan was developed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and State of Hawaii, co-managers for the monument.
Midway Atoll hosts the worlds largest populations of Laysan and black-footed albatrosses, with more than 1.5 million albatrosses visiting the islands during the breeding season. Midways breeding populations of white terns, black noddies, and red-tailed tropicbirds constitute the largest colonies in the Hawaiian archipelago. Another 13 seabird species also nest on Midway, and more than 100 of the worlds rarest duck - the Laysan duck - call the islands home. Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, reef fishes, and spinner dolphins abound in Midway's waters and coral reefs.
Numerous remnants of the historic Battle of Midway are found on Sand and Eastern Islands (two of Midways three islands), and three memorials are devoted to keeping alive the memory of the battle that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific.
The draft plan is available for downloading from the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/midway, http://www.hawaiireefs.noaa.gov">, or by calling the Fish and Wildlife Service in Honolulu at 808.792.9530. Comments on the draft plan and its associated documents are welcomed through February 6, 2007, and should be sent by electronic mail to midway@fws.gov"> or mailed to:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Pacific Islands Division of External Affairs and Visitor Services
Box 50187
Honolulu, HI 96850
