Chapter II — Species of Special Concern 



buildings. Repairs costing about $300,000 were 

 completed by the end of 1997. In 1998 the Commis- 

 sion learned that the Fish and Wildlife Service re- 

 ceived $1 million in the beginning of fiscal year 1999 

 as an initial investment for seawall construction; 

 additional monies are expected over the next three 

 years. The total cost of the project is estimated to be 

 about $15 million. The complete restoration of the 

 island's integrity along the lines proposed in 1995 by 

 the Army Corps of Engineers is highest priority. 



Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge 



Midway Atoll, located near the western end of the 

 Hawaiian Archipelago, consists of two principal 

 islands, Sand Island (about 445 hectares or 1,100 

 acres) and Eastern Island (about 135 hectares or 334 

 acres). The atoll supports an exceptional assemblage 

 of wildlife including the world's largest colony of 

 Laysan albatrosses, at least 13 other species of migra- 

 tory seabirds, and four species of migratory shore- 

 birds. It also provides habitat for threatened green 

 sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals. 



Midway is the most intensively developed atoll in 

 the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It was used as a 

 trans-Pacific cable relay station beginning in 1903, 

 and in 1935 was developed as a refueling base for 

 commercial trans-Pacific clipper flights. In 1940 the 

 atoll was further developed as a U.S. naval station, 

 and up to 10,000 people were stationed at the atoll 

 during World War II. In 1950 the naval station was 

 reactivated for the Korean War and in 1957 a major 

 expansion and rebuilding program took place. As use 

 of the station decreased, it was redesignated as a 

 Naval Air Facility in 1978 and was closed in 1993. 



The Navy transferred ownership of Midway Atoll 

 and the surrounding reefs to the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service in 1996 for management as the Midway Atoll 

 National Wildlife Refuge. Because of the importance 

 of the airfield on Midway for emergency landings, 

 refueling Coast Guard enforcement planes, and other 

 purposes, transfer of the atoll to the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service included an obligation to maintain the runway 

 and associated equipment {e.g., pumps and fuel 

 tanks). The facilities allow easy access for research- 

 ers and refuge staff and for public use compatible with 

 wildlife conservation, which is a fundamental purpose 



of national wildlife refiiges. Because the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service has neither the expertise nor the 

 funding to maintain and operate an airfield, it negoti- 

 ated arrangements with a private contractor in 1996 to 

 maintain and operate the airfield and manage a public 

 visitation program. 



As discussed in last year's annual report, the Fish 

 and Wildlife Service developed a Midway Atoll 

 National Wildlife Refuge Public Use Plan. To 

 accommodate and manage public uses compatible with 

 wildlife conservation, the plan proposed a series of 

 compatibility determinations defining allowed activi- 

 ties and related restrictions for public participation in 

 refuge research and management work, recreational 

 fishing, wildlife observation and photography, diving 

 and snorkeling, environmental education, and interpre- 

 tation of refuge wildlife and historical resources. 



Largely as a result of the change in stewardship at 

 Midway Island and the cooperative agreement between 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service and its contractor, monk 

 seals on and around the island have been monitored 

 continuously since February 1997 in a cooperative 

 effort between the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 and the Hawaii Wildlife Fund. The mean beach count 

 of 24 animals in 1998 was far higher than that of any 

 year since 1960. Eleven pups were born at the atoll 

 in 1998, the same number born in 1997. Ten of the 

 11 survived to weaning in both years. The recent 

 increases in beach counts and births are encouraging 

 signs of the possible reestablishment of the Midway 

 Islands as a major monk seal breeding site. 



The National Marine Fisheries Service, the Fish 

 and Wildlife Service, and the Service's contractor 

 continue to work cooperatively to address the array of 

 issues that face monk seals. An overriding concern is 

 that ecotourism and other activities need to provide 

 enough revenue for the contractor to continue to 

 maintain the facilities at Midway Island. Discussions 

 are ongoing about increasing the visitor cap (currently 

 100 people at a time), possible tour boat visits, and 

 sportfishing opportunities. Other potentially important 

 issues include regulating access to beaches and reefs 

 to minimize disturbance to monk seals, education and 

 policing of visitors, location for a swim platform, and 

 fishing for lobsters and other species by island resi- 

 dents and visitors. 



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