Scientists, kupuna (elders), fishermen, many in the Native Hawaiian community, the the NWHI Reserve Advisory Council and the broad public have concluded that commerical bottomfish activity is not compatible with the protection of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands ecosystem and should be phased out. This would exclude researchers working to ensure the long-term conservation of the NWHI and Native Hawaiians practicing subsistence, cultural, and religious uses.

The State waters hold the heart of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and contain some of the most ecologically important and vulnerable areas, especially the coral reefs and shallow lagoons essential to monk seals, sea turtles, and other wildlife. The state is being encouraged to provide the highest level of protection for these areas and to ensure that the language of the proposed rules accomplishes this. Please take a moment to preserve on the last wild places on Earth. Your comments will help to protect these vitally important waters. Mahalo nui loa.

You can take action on this alert either via email (please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/NWHI_refuge/83u57e4ljwb3wt

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/NWHI_refuge/forward/83u57e4ljwb3wt

We encourage you to take action by August 13, 2004