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 North-western Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument (subsequently
renamed the Papahānaumokuākea 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.