President Trump opened the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine Monument to commercial fishing, allowing fishing in the 50- to 200-nautical mile zone. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council is working to allow commercial fishing in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the largest marine conservation area worldwide. This area is home to more than 7,000 marine species, many threatened or endangered, and has deep cultural significance. The council believes previous fishing efforts were sustainable and aligns lifting the ban with Trump's order to enhance U.S. seafood production.
The council plans to urge Trump to lift the commercial fishing prohibition at Papahanaumokuakea, asserting that previous fishing practices were sustainably managed and did not damage the ecosystem.
Totaling 583,000 square miles, Papahanaumokuakea is the largest marine conservation area in the world, providing habitat for over 7,000 marine species, many of which are endangered.
For more than 60 years, commercial fishing took place in the region without degrading the ecosystem, which is recognized as one of the healthiest and most intact in the world.
Lifting the fishing ban aligns with Trump's executive order 14276, which directs federal agencies to reduce burdens on domestic fishing and promote sustainable U.S. seafood production.
#marine-conservation #commercial-fishing #papahanaumokuakea #wildlife-protection #us-fisheries-policy
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