Lunch Forum January 30, 2013
Topic: How NOAA Fisheries Protects “Essential Fish Habitat”, and Why It Matters
Presented by Dr. Danielle Jayewardene, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office
Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Time: 11:30 a.m. (presentation begins promptly at noon)
Location: Oahu Country Club, 150 Country Club Road, Honolulu HI 96817
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), has been designated as the marine waters and shallow ocean floor around our Islands. EFH is the legal tool that NOAA Fisheries uses to manage marine habitat to ensure that the federally managed species, such as tunas, bottom fishes, coral reef fishes, crabs and precious coral, have a healthy future. Federal action agency which funds, permits, or undertakes activities (e.g. permits or federal aid for construction projects in water and/or on land, military training activities) that may adversely affect EFH are required to consult with NOAA Fisheries regarding the potential effects of their actions on EFH. The EFH consultation process allows NOAA to provide conservation recommendations to help the action agency avoid and minimize, to the greatest extent possible, impacts that may occur from these activities to EFH. This effort is important as marine habitat, key to a healthy ocean environment, is continuously under the threat of being degraded.
About the Speaker
Dr Danielle Jayewardene is a coral reef ecologist at the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office in Honolulu. Her primary role at NOAA is to identify, assess and help minimize impacts to the marine environment not only in Hawaii but also in the rest of the US Pacific Islands. Danielle grew up in Sri Lanka and in Sweden, went to college in London, and has spent the last ten years in Hawaii conducting marine research and working on marine conservation issues.
About the Speaker
Dr Danielle Jayewardene is a coral reef ecologist at the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office in Honolulu. Her primary role at NOAA is to identify, assess and help minimize impacts to the marine environment not only in Hawaii but also in the rest of the US Pacific Islands. Danielle grew up in Sri Lanka and in Sweden, went to college in London, and has spent the last ten years in Hawaii conducting marine research and working on marine conservation issues.
