Trump Opens Pacific Marine National Monuments to Commercial Fishing

President Trump signed a proclamation restoring commercial fishing access to three Pacific Ocean marine national monuments, affecting roughly 500,000 square miles of ocean. The three monuments—Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument near Hawaii, the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument east of the Philippines, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument near American Samoa—had been designated by previous administrations to protect marine ecosystems. Trump claimed the protections had unfairly restricted U.S. fishermen while allowing Canadian and Japanese vessels to fish in the same waters, arguing the rollback would support domestic fishing industries and lower seafood costs. The proclamation follows a similar action in April 2025 that opened 400,000 square miles of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Scientists and conservation groups recognize marine monuments as effective tools for protecting ocean ecosystems and fish stocks, though regional fishery management councils have argued the restrictions were counterproductive to domestic fishing goals.