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The '''Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument''' (formerly the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument) is the largest [[Marine Protected Area]] in the world and was named by the American television show ''[[Good Morning America]]'' and newspaper ''[[USA Today]]'' as one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" <ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/7Wonders/ ABC Good Morning America "7 New Wonders" Page]</ref>.
The new native [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]] name, Papahānaumokuākea, has been chosen by state residents. The name reflects Hawaiian traditions relating to the birth of the Islands. Papahanaumoku is the goddess who birthed the islands. Her husband was Wakea.<ref name=AP_15Jun>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061500370.html Bush to Create Largest Marine Sanctuary], [[Associated Press|AP]], [[15 June]] [[2006]]</ref>
The monument supports 7,000 species, one quarter of which are [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]]. Prominent species include the threatened [[Green Sea Turtle]] and the endangered [[Hawaiian Monk Seal]], the [[Laysan Finch|Laysan]] and [[Nihoa Finch|Nihoa Finches]], the [[Nihoa Millerbird]], [[Laysan Duck]], seabirds like the [[Laysan Albatross]], numerous species of plants including [[Pritchardia remota|''Pritchardia'' palms]], and many species of arthropods. According to NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, populations of spiny [[lobster]] have not recovered from an oceanographic ecosystem regime shift that affected the North Pacific during the late 1980s and early 1990s<ref>Polovina, Jeffrey J., [http://www.wpcouncil.org/NWHI/Documents/Polovina+Regime%20shifts.pdf Climate variation, regime shifts, and implications for sustainable fisheries], Bulletin of Marine Science, 76(2): 233–244, 2005, .pdf</ref> which reduced populations of a variety species, including seabirds and monk seals. According to the proclamation, by 2011, commercial [[fishing]] will terminate. The area will be promoted as a tourism destination, where visitors will be permitted to undertake such activities as sport fishing, snorkeling, diving, etc.<ref name=BBC_5083974>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5083974.stm Bush to protect Hawaiian islands], [[BBC News]], [[15 June]] [[2006]]</ref>
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