What are the primary ecosystem threats for the NWHI?
Human activities are the cause of many of the threats to the ecosystem of the NWHI. These include, among others, vessel groundings, pollution from ships and other vessels, derelict fishing gear, derelict military and commercial infrastructure, land development, the introduction of alien species, and research and ecotourism impacts. Other causes for concern include fishing, marine mammal entanglement in derelict fishing gear, toxic materials in the environment, and impacts from fluctuations and the rise in ocean temperature.
