President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a proclamation reopening large portions of several Pacific marine national monuments to commercial fishing, stating that existing federal conservation laws provide sufficient protections for marine resources while allowing economic opportunities for U.S. fishermen.
The proclamation modifies previous presidential actions that restricted commercial fishing within portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument near Hawaii, the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in the South Pacific, the White House said.
Trump said federal laws already provide comprehensive management and conservation protections for marine ecosystems and species.
“Hundreds of thousands of square miles of ocean were cut off for them. They can’t fish,” he said during the signing of the order. “Other people could fish. They couldn’t. These people weren’t allowed to fish. Can you imagine that? Did you ever think that was going to happen as you grew up? … That someday they were going to take away the right for you to go fishing in the Pacific Ocean. What a bunch of dopes.” …