Papah?naumoku?kea is one of three marine monuments that has won an international award.
The Marine Conservation Institute presented the first ever Global Ocean Refuge System awards in Chile yesterday.
Papah?naumoku?kea was recognized for its size, native sea life and the amount of dedicated federal resources to manage the area.
The honor looks at protected marine areas from around the world, and recognizes those most efficiently managed to incentivize countries to create more such areas.
The award hopes to promote marine conservation to meet the U.N.’s 2020 goal to protect 10 percent of the ocean and the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s 30 percent by 2030 goal.
Officials say the GLORES (pronounced “glories”) award is the marine management area’s version of the Oscars or an Olympic medal.
Mike Gravitz is the Director of Policy and Legislation for Marine Conservation Institute.
He says there’s been no rating system to highlight the best management area or reserve until now.
The Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary in Colombia and the Tubbataha Reefs Nature Park in the Philippines also received the award.
Watch sections of the GLORES awards ceremony at the links below:
Part 1: Introduction of the awards
https://www.facebook.com/rrussmmo/videos/10101120739181496/?hc_ref=ARRpN4Ic8fryIAKjTAbds8iV6S74009y7H9brvbR7IQ-ACpLzbZD2aENyVdC2apECqo
Part 2: Papahanaumokuakea acceptance
