Scientists endorse restoration of commercial fishing in Pacific sanctuary

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

Scientists at the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council have recommended the restoration of commercial fishing in certain portions of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument.

The council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee said the partial reopening of the marine sanctuary would allow American fishermen to regain access to U.S. waters amid competition from much larger foreign fleets.

Formerly known as the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument, the Heritage sanctuary covers approximately 490,000 square miles of open ocean, coral reef and island habitats. The total area is nearly five times the size of all the U.S. national parks combined and nearly twice the size of the state of Texas.

 Established by then-President George W. Bush in 2009, the monument is surrounded by seven national wildlife refuges: Howland, Baker, and Jarvis Islands, Johnston, Wake and Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef.

At its 206th meeting next week, the fishery council will decide on the committee’s recommendation for the Heritage monument, which aligns with President Donald Trump’s April 17, 2025 proclamation, unleashing commercial fishing in the Pacific.

Also on the table for deliberation are the Papahānaumokuākea, Rose Atoll and Marianas Trench marine national monuments.

“In making its decisions, the Council will determine the impacts of the alternatives on the affected environment, and consider recommendations from industry and science advisory bodies, and comments from the public,” the council said in a press release.

The council anticipates “broad interest” in the issue "because the decisions sit at the intersection of fishing access, seafood security and marine conservation."

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Trump's proclamation directed the Secretary of Commerce to revise regulations to allow managed U.S. commercial fishing in the monument waters.

U.S. longline and purse seine vessels would be allowed to fish in these areas following strict federal fishery requirements.

These include permits, catch limits, gear restrictions, logbooks and observer coverage for monitoring catch and protected species interactions and vessel monitoring systems for enforcing closed areas.

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