Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Targets World’s Largest Conservation Area

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, also known as Wespac, is one of eight regional advisory groups established by Congress in 1976 and helps to develop fishery management plans for the federal waters surrounding Hawai‘i and other U.S. Pacific Islands. Last week news outlets reported that Wespac will ask President Trump to allow commercial fishing in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. In May, Earthjustice filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its illegal actions to open the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument to commercial fishing. This request by Wespac would mark the second attack on protected Pacific national monument waters since President Trump took office in January.

The following is a statement from Earthjustice attorney David Henkin:

“Opening Papahānaumokuākea to commercial fishing would be disastrous for the environment. As Hawaiians have long known, putting a kapu on fishing in key areas promotes greater overall ocean health and biodiversity. Since the ban on commercial fishing in Papahānaumokuākea was expanded in 2016, the abundance of tuna in the waters adjacent to the monument has increased dramatically, benefiting commercial fishers. Wise, science-based management for the benefit of current and future generations requires keeping commercial fishing out of Papahānaumokuākea.”