Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13196: Final Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve

President: Bill Clinton

Finalized the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands reserve boundaries, preservation areas and conservation restrictions.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13196 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13196 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13196 do?

EO 13196 amended EO 13178 after public comment, made preservation areas permanent, set fishing and discharge limits and refined management provisions. The reserve later became part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, followed by a national-marine-sanctuary designation. A June 2026 proclamation restored commercial fishing access in specified waters seaward of 50 nautical miles, while retaining specified restrictions within 50 nautical miles of certain Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; the rules still depend on the exact location and applicable authority.

Claim-level review October 2, 2026: The June 2026 proclamation restored commercial fishing access in specified waters seaward of 50 nautical miles, while retaining specified Northwestern Hawaiian Islands restrictions within 50 nautical miles. The order's reserve history remains distinct from the later monument and sanctuary designations.

Administration position: Finalising the reserve did not settle every later fishery, monument, sanctuary or Native Hawaiian management question.
SignedJanuary 18, 2001
Parent orderEO 13178
Later designationPapahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Before and after

Before the order

EO 13178 established interim protections pending public comment.

After the order

Permanent preservation areas and final reserve rules took effect, later supplemented by monument designations.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Commerce Secretary and NOAAManage the reserve and pursue sanctuary designationContinuing
Fishery managers and usersComply with reserve and overlapping rulesCurrent rules changed
Reserve advisory councilProvide management adviceIntegrated with later structures

What happened next

EO 13196 finalized and amended the reserve.

Proclamation 8031 created the marine national monument.

Proclamation 9478 expanded the monument.

A proclamation restored commercial fishing access in specified zones.

Signed text, official disposition and the cited later implementation records for EO 13196 rechecked.