HONOLULU (AP) — Opposition is growing for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plan to expand a humpback whale sanctuary in east Oahu.
HONOLULU (AP) — Opposition is growing for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plan to expand a humpback whale sanctuary in east Oahu.
NOAA wants to make Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai a Special Sanctuary Management Area, which means more protections for humpback whales and other marine life, Hawaii News Now reported (https://bit.ly/1JZQwMy ).
“We feel like NOAA, with our expertise and resources, can actually work with the community to try to help to restore it and make the bay more healthy,” Sanctuary Superintendent Malia Chow said.
Opponents of the proposal fear the possible changes would make the bay less user-friendly.
Jeffrey Krantz with “Friends of Maunalua Bay” owns a water sports company and says the plan take 200 jobs from the area and hurt nearby businesses.
“I can’t see within the proposal how we’ll carry out dredging or how we’ll carry out our daily business without disturbing the ocean floor or going near a turtle,” he said.
Malama Maunalua Executive Director Frazer McGilvray says the health of bay is in bad shape and help from the federal government is needed.
“We see this as an opportunity to help everybody else improve the quality of the bay, help us bring back the fishes that are no longer there, improve the corals, and still allows everyone to enjoy the bay the same way they’re doing right now,” McGilvray said.
The public comment period for the proposal ends Friday.