Marine Life & Ocean Advocacy Efforts

2025

• Opposing offshore oil and gas leasing mandates in House budget reconciliation legislation: Citing threats to endangered marine life, coastal communities and critical environmental laws including the ESA, MMPA, NEPA and CZMA. Emphasizing the risks of expanded drilling to public safety, coastal economies, climate resilience and environmental justice, particularly for frontline communities. Urging Congress to reject fossil fuel subsidies and instead invest in coastal protection and climate solutions.
• Submitted a comment letter opposing the proposed narrowing of the “harm” definition under the Endangered Species Act: Citing the critical role habitat protection plays in preventing species extinction and emphasizing the threat posed by the proposed rule to whales, dolphins, and marine ecosystems. Emphasizing the need to uphold the current science-based interpretation of “harm,” protect critical habitats, respect judicial precedent, and maintain strong conservation safeguards for endangered and threatened species.

• Signed on to a letter urging strong funding and support for NOAA in FY 2026 appropriations: Citing the agency’s critical role in protecting public safety, supporting coastal economies, sustaining fisheries, advancing marine science, and ensuring national disaster resilience. Emphasizing the interconnected nature of NOAA’s programs, the economic impact of its services across coastal and inland communities, and the severe risks posed by proposed budget cuts, staffing reductions, and the elimination of key offices

• Signed on to a Congressional Letter urging Congress to uphold MMPA and ESA: Citing serious risks to marine mammal recovery efforts, coastal ecosystem health, and science-based permitting processes. Emphasizing the economic and ecological importance of marine mammals, and urging Congress to maintain strong legal protections to support ocean health and future generations.

• Signed on to a Congressional Letter opposing efforts to dismantle or weaken the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Citing grave concerns about threats to NOAA’s services, including budget cuts, staff layoffs, and interference with scientific integrity. Emphasizing the critical role NOAA plays in protecting public safety, supporting economic sectors, advancing climate science, and ensuring national resilience against extreme weather and environmental disasters.

• Mobilized PWF & PacWhale supporters to call and email their federal representatives to resist changes to MMPA and ESA.

• Supporting the establishment of a comprehensive state fishpond inventory (HB309 HD1): Citing the urgent need to revitalize Hawaiʻi’s loko iʻa for food security, coastal resilience, and cultural restoration. Emphasizing the benefits of improved fishpond management for environmental sustainability, community stewardship, and climate adaptation.

• Supporting sterilization mandates to reduce feral cat impacts on marine ecosystems (HB364 HD1): Citing the threat of toxoplasmosis to endangered marine species, including Hawaiian monk seals and spinner dolphins. Emphasizing the importance of humane control measures to protect Hawaiʻi’s unique biodiversity.

• Supporting the creation of a Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Special Fund (HB1077): Citing Hawaiʻi’s climate emergency and the urgent need for dedicated, proactive funding. Emphasizing the critical role of tourism revenue in addressing climate change impacts and protecting marine ecosystems. 

• Supporting the designation of ʻōpae ʻula as the official state shrimp of Hawaiʻi (HB345): Citing the ecological importance of anchialine pool ecosystems and the role of ʻōpae ʻula in maintaining coastal water quality. Emphasizing the need for increased awareness and protection of these rare habitats.

• Supporting stronger protections for parrotfish populations critical to reef resilience (SB244): Citing the ecological role of parrotfish as essential herbivores that maintain coral reef health and support coastal sand production. Emphasizing the urgent need to prevent overexploitation and promote sustainable reef management.

• Supporting the creation of a cesspool conversion section within the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (HB749): Citing the major threats that cesspools pose to drinking water quality, coral reefs, and public health. Emphasizing the importance of building government capacity to accelerate cesspool conversions by the 2050 deadline.
• Submitted a comment letter to the FAA calling for a full Environmental Impact Statement on SpaceX Pacific splashdowns to protect endangered marine species and ecosystems: Citing major concerns about potential harm to endangered species, including North Pacific humpback whales and Hawaiian monk seals, chemical contamination, debris impacts, and noise pollution. Emphasizing the importance of Indigenous Hawaiian consultation and calling for comprehensive environmental monitoring of the proposed splashdown zone within and around the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. 

2024

• Opposed new commercial aquarium permits and advocated for maintaining full Board authority over permit decisions: Submitted testimony opposing the issuance of new commercial aquarium collection permits in West Hawaiʻi and opposing the delegation of permitting authority solely to the Department Chair of the Bureau of Land and Natural Resources.
• Supported the sanctuary designation for Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary: Supporting Alternative 1, encompassing approximately 582,250 square miles. Emphasized the importance of protecting the area from unsustainable tourism, industrial fishing, and vessel collisions, advocated for continued collaborative management with Native Hawaiian representation, and urged that only sustenance fishing be allowed. Called for stronger federal resource commitments to manage and restore the sanctuary and address the persistent threat of marine debris. 

2023

• Support for Kīpahulu Moku Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area: Submitted a support letter for the designation of the Kīpahulu CBSFA for the co-management of fishery resources by the local community. 

• Supported the designation of the Pacific Remote Islands as a National Marine Sanctuary: Advocated for the sanctuary to be protected to the full limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone and collaborating with Indigenous Pacific Islanders through co-management frameworks.

• Challenged inaccurate conservation claims in U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone evaluation: Co-signed a letter to federal leadership expressing concerns over the Council Coordinating Committee’s report on conservation areas in the U.S. EEZ, urging that only areas meeting globally recognized standards for biodiversity protection be counted toward the national 30×30 conservation goals. 

• Supported vessel speed limits and protection measures for Rice’s whales in the Gulf of Mexico: Supported a petition urging NOAA to establish vessel speed limits and other mitigation measures to protect the critically endangered Gulf of Mexico (“Rice’s”) whale population, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining.

• Opposed legislation (H.R.4323 and S.1833) that would block NOAA from issuing updated vessel speed rules to protect North Atlantic right whales: Signed on to a coalition letter opposing congressional efforts to delay or block the implementation of new vessel speed regulations critical to the survival of North Atlantic right whales, advocating for immediate action to reduce vessel strike risk.

• Advocated for no new offshore oil and gas leasing in the 2023–2028 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program: Signed on to a coalition letter urging the Biden administration to halt new offshore oil and gas lease sales, citing major climate, environmental justice, and marine wildlife protection concerns.

• Requested funding for a pilot Cetacean Desk to reduce vessel impacts on endangered whales in Puget Sound: ​​Co-siged a letter supporting a congressional request for funding to establish a Cetacean Desk within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Center to coordinate real-time whale protection efforts.

• Requested increased NOAA funding to protect marine mammals and recover endangered species: Co-signed a request to Congress for a $250 million appropriation to NOAA’s Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Species budget line, to support urgent recovery actions for species like the North Atlantic right whale, Rice’s whale, and vaquita.

• Supported the Restoring Effective Science-based Conservation Under Environmental laws protecting Whales Act of 2023 (RESCUE Whales Act): Co-signed a letter supporting legislation to repeal provisions that delay new conservation regulations for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and restore the application of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act.
• Urged the Department of the Interior to implement a strong and swift plastic phase-out plan in national parks: Co-signed a letter calling for rapid elimination of single-use plastics across the U.S. National Park system, supporting executive action to protect ecosystems from plastic pollution.

2022

• Support for Critical Ocean Legislation in Congressional End-of-Year Package: Coalition letter to Congressional leadership for eight bi-partisan ocean protection bills

• Advocated as a coalition member for whale protections and noise reduction measures in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act: Adoption of these measures would promote coexistence between vessels and whales and strengthen ocean ecosystem health.
• Great Sandy Marine Park Zoning Plan: Submitted comments to strengthen whale protections within the zoning plan

2021

• Spinner Dolphin 50-Yard Approach Resolution: Advocated for Maui County Council resolution supporting NOAA/NMFS spinner dolphin protections; resolution passed unanimously.

• Support for Maui Bill: Restricting Disposable Bodyboards: Testified in favor of banning polystyrene foam bodyboards.

• Plastic Disposable Foodware Ordinance Rules: Submitted testimony to clarify Maui County’s plastic ban rules for effective enforcement.

• Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act – Multi-Stakeholder Letter: Led outreach to strengthen Hawai‘i Congressional support.
• NOAA Climate Resilience Recommendations: Submitted four recommendations on resilient fisheries to NOAA under President Biden’s Executive Order.

2020

• Opposing the issuance of commercial aquarium fishing permits in the West Hawaiʻi Regional Fishery Management Area: Citing concerns under HRS Chapter 343 regarding the environmental and ecological impacts of continued extraction for the aquarium trade. Emphasizing Pacific Whale Foundation’s position that such permits undermine marine resource sustainability and conflict with conservation goals for Hawaiʻi’s reef ecosystems.

• Letter on Queensland Shark Nets (Australia): Opposed shark net program; advocated for non-lethal alternatives to prevent marine life entanglement.

• Support: Maui Single-Use Plastic Foodware Ban: Backed amendments banning disposable plastic items countywide.

• Alternative Remediation for Molokini UXOs: Advocated against in-place detonation of unexploded ordinances to protect marine life.

• Support: Statewide Single-Use Plastics Reduction Bill: Advocated against in-place detonation of unexploded ordinances to protect marine life.

• NOAA Spinner Dolphin Approach Regulations: Supported 50-yard approach limits under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

2019

• First Queensland Shark Nets Letter: Joined letter urging for better shark management to protect migrating whales.
• Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act: Hawai‘i Congressional Outreach: Requested State Congressional delegation to support federal plastics reduction bill.

2018

• Supporting the removal of exemptions from the County’s plastic bag ordinance: Citing scientific evidence that thick, reusable plastic bags pose equal or greater environmental harm compared to single-use bags. Emphasizing the need to close loopholes in the 2016 plastic bag ban to effectively reduce plastic pollution and protect Hawaiʻi’s marine ecosystems.

2016

• Supporting proposed regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to protect Hawaiian spinner dolphins: Citing scientific evidence of chronic stress and exhaustion among spinner dolphins caused by increasing human interactions. Emphasizing the importance of banning swim-with activities, establishing vessel approach limits, and adopting responsible ocean-user practices to protect the health and long-term fitness of dolphin populations.

2014

• Support: Tobacco-Free Beaches and Parks Bill: Supported Maui County’s legislation banning tobacco products at beaches and parks.
• Support: Listing Lolita (Southern Resident Killer Whale) Under ESA: Advocated for including captive orca Lolita under ESA protections.

2013

• Support: Maui/Lanai Fishing Regulations Update: Supported stronger, science-based fishing regulations.
• Oppose: Delisting North Pacific Humpback Whale: Cautioned against premature removal of humpback whale ESA protections.

2012

• Oppose: Georgia Aquarium’s Beluga Import Permit: Opposed importation of wild-captured belugas for display. 

• Concern: Green Sea Turtle Delisting: Recommended maintaining ESA protection for Hawai‘i’s green sea turtles. 

• Concern: PG&E Seismic Testing: Opposed seismic testing harmful to marine mammals along California coast.
• Concern: Ukumehame Shoreline Armoring: Raised environmental concerns about emergency seawall construction harming reefs. 

2011

• Support: Listing of Hawaiian Insular False Killer Whales as Endangered: Testified and provided scientific evidence leading to eventual ESA listing. 

2005

• Submitted petition to stop all US based shark finning 

2004

• Submitted petition for pump out facilities in Māʻalaea Harbor and stopping all waste dumping at sea 

2002

• Support: Banning Captive Cetaceans in Hawaiʻi