Trump Opens Pacific Marine National Monuments to Commercial Fishing

President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday restoring commercial fishing access to portions of three Pacific marine national 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. Together, the affected areas span roughly half a million square miles, and the administration framed the action as a way to reduce reliance on imported seafood, lower consumer prices, and support coastal fishing communities. The monuments were originally established by President George W. Bush and later expanded by President Obama; Thursday's order specifically targets the Obama-era expansion of Papahānaumokuākea, opening waters between 50 and 200 miles from shore while leaving the original Bush-designated core off-limits. The proclamation stipulates that only U.S.-flagged vessels may fish commercially within the monument boundaries, though permits can be issued to foreign vessels to transport U.S.-caught fish. Environmental groups including Earthjustice and the Center for Biological Diversity immediately vowed legal challenges, arguing Trump lacks the authority to reverse monument protections and that opening the areas risks undermining decades of ecosystem safeguards; a separate legal challenge to a similar 2025 order opening the Pacific Islands Heritage monument is already pending in court. The Hawaii Longline Association noted that commercial vessels will not gain immediate access, as the order must still go through a federal rule-making process before fishing can begin.