Trump Administration Continues Attacks on Pristine Pacific Marine Monuments

President Trump today signed a proclamation attempting to allow commercial fishing in the Mau and Ho‘omalu Zones of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument. The order threatens critical species’ habitat within and around the monument.

Earthjustice vowed to take legal action in response to today’s news.

“Commercial fishing in our protected marine monuments would not only be disastrous for the environment, but also does nothing for the fishing industry,” said David Henkin, deputy managing attorney with Earthjustice’s Mid-Pacific Office. “Without fishing in the monuments, U.S.-based fisheries hit their catch limits for tuna every year. Science-backed management for the benefit of current and future generations requires protected marine areas. Safe havens allow marine life to maintain healthy populations and prevent corporate greed from stripping the ocean of life. We’ll see the administration in Court.”

Today’s news follows similar attacks from the Trump administration on the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument in 2025 and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monuments earlier this year. Earthjustice sued on behalf of Kāpaʻa, the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, and the Center for Biological Diversity over the Pacific Islands Heritage proclamation, and in August 2025, a federal district court struck down the resumption of commercial fishing in the monument.