Among the many comments supporting the keeping the national marine monument status of Rose Atoll, is one that points to the importance of the atoll to continued understanding of humpback whales.

The commenter, submitted late last week on federal portal, www.regulations.com, argued that Rose Atoll  — among other things — provides a unique combination of marine and terrestrial resources for scientific study.

Terrestrial ecology interests include the recovery of the unique ecosystems on Rose Island after the removal of rats; the ability to control and remove invasive species is unique to a carefully managed protected area, and the re-establishment of native species and communities can provide key scientific research for restoration and community ecology, it says.

“Scientific study of the marine environment at Rose Atoll continues to contribute to our understanding of humpback whales, one of the most publicly recognized marine species,” according to the commenter, who notes that Rose Atoll is also one of the few atolls that is primarily constructed with calcareous coralline algae, giving its reefs a distinct pink color.

Additionally, Rose Atoll is also of scientific interest to the resource management and social science community, as it provides a system for studying partnership between national government and adjacent tribal communities.

“While the controversy surrounding part of the Rose Atoll’s historical significance as a traditional fishing area for Manu’a fishermen does show that there is room to improve the management of this national monument, the existence of the monument should continue,” the commenter said.

Rose Atoll is included in the five national marine monuments in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean that the US Interior Department is currently reviewing after been designated by previous US presidents. The USDOI review follows two separate executive orders by President Donald Trump, and the review includes land monuments across the country.

The comment period for the public, to submit — for the first time — comments on the land and marine monuments, opened May 12th and as of yesterday morning more than 127,000 comments have been posted on federal portal www.regulations.gov and the vast majority of the comments continue to oppose re-designation of all monuments