Location
Key Information
| 1,673 km2 | MARINE AREA |
| 1,674 km2 | TOTAL AREA i |
- Commercial marine life removal is prohibited
- Both commercial and recreational marine life removal are heavily restricted
- Recreational marine life removal is prohibited, and commercial marine life removal is restricted
Boundary: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Unmodified)
2.0
May 2024
Feedback and Data Requests
Purpose
The refuge is managed as a highly-restricted marine protected area. Baker Island is the crest of an ancient steep-sided coral reef cap and massive underlying extinct volcano emerging from the deep ocean floor of the equatorial Pacific. The equatorial undercurrent deflects off the western flank of the seamount, pushing nutrient-rich waters up into the sunlit zone, thereby increasing marine productivity and benefiting many species of marine life.
Species of Concern: Corals (Scleractinia)
Regulations Summary
Restrictions
1. Commercial fishing and public uses are prohibited.
2. Fishing is prohibited landward of the 50 fathom curve.
3. PRIA coral reef ecosystem MUS may not be taken by means of spearfishing with SCUBA at night (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) in the EEZ.
4. Fishing for PRIA bottomfish MUS with bottom trawls and bottom set gillnets is prohibited. Possession of a bottom trawl and bottom set gillnet by any vessel having a permit or otherwise established to be fishing for PRIA bottomfish MUS in the PRIA fishery management area is prohibited.
5. The possession or use of any poisons, explosives, or intoxicating substances for the purpose of harvesting PRIA bottomfish is prohibited.
Allowed
Recreational fishing may be permitted, subject to federal law.