On June 11, 2026, President Trump signed an “Executive Proclamation Restoring American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific,” opening up important protected marine waters to fishing by United States flagged fishing vessels. 

The expanded fishing grounds for American fishermen in the Pacific restored through this Executive Proclamation include: 

The Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument
The Mau Zone and Ho‘omalu Zone and areas seaward of 50 nautical miles within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
Waters between 12 and 50 nautical miles surrounding Rose Atoll within the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument 

 National monuments safeguard public water and wildlife, enhance the outdoor-recreation economy, protecting trails and wilderness access, and preserve culturally and geographically significant sites.

Scientific studies have demonstrated that restricting fishing within protected areas like the monument increases the abundance of fish within the reserve, and increases the abundance of fish available to commercial fishers in waters outside the protected areas by as much as 50%.

With a Pacific Islander coalition we are protesting this illegal opening of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and National Marine Sanctuary and are petitioning NOAA and the Department of the Interior to block this move.  

Sign  and share the Petition to Prevent Fishing In Our Monuments