Hawaii FEP - Western Pacific Fishery Council

The relatively long pelagic larval phase for palinurids results in very wide dispersal of spinylobster larvae. Palinurid larvae are transported up to 2,000 nautical miles by prevailing oceancurrents. Because phyllosoma larvae are transported by the prevailing ocean currents outside ofEEZ waters, the Council has identified habitat in these areas as “important habitat.” To dateHAPC has not been identified or designated for deepwater shrimp.6.3.3 Precious CoralsThe Council designated three of the six precious coral beds—Makapuu, Wespac and BrooksBank—as habitat areas of particular concern. Makapuu bed was designated as HAPC because ofthe ecological function it provides, the rarity of the habitat type, and its sensitivity to humaninducedenvironmental degradation. The potential commercial importance and the amount ofscientific information that has been collected on Makapuu bed were also considered. Wespac bedwas designated as HAPC because of the ecological function it provides and the rarity of thehabitat type. Its refugia status was also considered. Brooks Bank was designated HAPC becauseof the ecological function it provides and the rarity of the habitat type. Its possible importance asforaging habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal was also considered. For black corals, the Councildesignated the Auau Channel as HAPC because of the ecological function it provides, the rarityof the habitat type and its sensitivity to human-induced environmental degradation. Itscommercial importance was also considered.6.3.4 Coral Reef EcosystemsBecause of the already-noted lack of scientific data, the Council considered locations that areknown to support populations of Coral Reef Ecosystem MUS and meet NMFS criteria forHAPC. Although not one of the criteria established by NMFS, the Council considereddesignating areas that are already protected—for example, wildlife refuges—as HAPC. TheCoral Reef Ecosystem MUS HAPCs for Hawaii identified in Table 35 have met at least one ofthe four criteria listed above, or the fifth criterion (i.e., protected areas) identified by the Council.However, a great deal of life history work needs to be done in order to adequately identify theextent of HAPCs and link them to particular species or life stages.198