Coalition nixes plan to reopen protected Pacific waters to commercial fishing
By Bryan Manabat
The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed lifting long-standing restrictions on commercial fishing in portions of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Expansion, a move federal officials say would align fisheries regulations with presidential directives and support the sustainable management of U.S. ocean resources.
The proposed rule would allow commercial fishing in waters between 50 and 200 nautical miles surrounding Johnston Atoll, Wake Island and Jarvis Island, covering about 408,000 square miles of ocean currently protected from industrial fishing.
According to NMFS, the action is necessary to conform regulations with Presidential Proclamation 10918, issued in April 2025, and amended by Presidential Proclamation 11035 in June 2026, which directed federal agencies to reopen monument expansion waters to American commercial fishing.
The proposal also follows a federal court order and would restore management under existing federal fisheries laws, including the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act and the South Pacific Tuna Act.
Federal officials said commercial fishing activities in the monument expansion would remain subject to existing conservation and management requirements that apply to all U.S. fishing vessels.
NMFS maintains the proposal would support the long-term sustainability of U.S. fisheries while ensuring the proper care and management of the monument's historic and scientific resources.
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The proposal has sparked opposition from the Pacific Islands Heritage Coalition, which argues reopening the protected waters would threaten marine ecosystems and undermine Indigenous Pacific cultural connections to the area.
In a statement issued as NMFS opened a 30-day public comment period, the coalition urged the public to oppose the rule and retain existing protections.
Coalition leaders contend the agency understates the environmental and cultural risks associated with industrial fishing.
"The ocean has always been a place of connection for Pacific peoples, and the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument has important historical and cultural ties," said William Aila, a Native Hawaiian fisherman and former chair of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources.
He said the waters serve as a refuge for threatened and endangered species while holding deep cultural significance for Pacific Island communities.
The coalition argues the federal analysis overlooks ancestral ties, traditional voyaging practices and the responsibility many Indigenous Pacific Islanders feel to protect the ocean.
The group said the monument contains some of the world's most intact marine ecosystems, including ancient coral communities and 165 known seamounts that support diverse marine life.
Environmental advocates also point to potential impacts on sharks, whales, sea turtles, seabirds and other protected species. According to the coalition, industrial fishing can disrupt marine food webs, alter predator populations and affect ecologically important habitats.
Dr. Robert Richmond of the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory said marine protected areas provide important breeding and feeding grounds that help sustain fish populations and broader ocean ecosystems. He described maintaining protections as an investment in the long-term health of Pacific marine resources.
The coalition also disputes claims that reopening the area is necessary for the economic well-being of the fishing industry. Citing NMFS' own analysis, opponents note that the agency characterized economic benefits as likely modest, consisting primarily of fuel savings and reduced costs associated with fishing in foreign waters. The coalition further noted that Hawaii's longline fleet generated approximately $109 million in revenue in 2025.
The dispute marks the latest chapter in a long-running debate over management of the Pacific's remote marine protected areas.
The monument was established by President George W. Bush in 2009 and expanded by President Barack Obama in 2014 following extensive public consultation and stakeholder engagement.
Conservation groups say those protections reflected broad public support and scientific recommendations.
Coalition Executive Director Sheila Sarhangi said the proposal prioritizes commercial fishing interests over the ecological and cultural value of one of the Pacific's most significant marine protected areas. The coalition is calling on federal officials to maintain existing protections and ensure any future decisions are grounded in science, comply with applicable laws and incorporate meaningful Indigenous participation.
NMFS will accept public comments on the proposed rule through Dec. 9 before determining whether to finalize the regulatory changes.
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