6.2.1 The United States has taken considerable
action to ensure maritime safety and to protect the fragile environment
and cultural resources and areas of cultural importance significant
to Native Hawaiians in the NWHI. This area has been the
subject of a variety of protective measures, including designation
of this area as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine
National Monument (subsequently renamed the Papahanaumokuakea
Marine National Monument) in recognition of its fragility and
to protect the many species of coral, fish, birds, marine
mammals, and other flora and fauna, as well as to protect historical
and archaeological heritage resources, including cultural resources
and areas of significant importance to Native Hawaiians.
6.2.2 Regulations in this area, inter alia,
prohibit taking, possessing, injuring, or disturbing any resource;
altering the seabed; anchoring or deserting a vessel; and possessing
fishing gear unless stowed. All of these activities may be allowed
by permit; however, permits cannot be issued for such things as releasing
an introduced species. Activities such as discharging or depositing
any material into the Monument, or discharging or depositing any
material outside the Monument that subsequently injures Monument
resources, except discharges incidental to vessel use, such as approved
marine sanitation device effluent, cooling water, and engine exhaust
are also prohibited. The United States strictly regulates entry
into the Monument and, for those vessels subject to United States
jurisdiction, requires the mandatory use of vessel monitoring systems
on those vessels that may be allowed into the Monument for specific
purposes.