Mathias Busekist
Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at reopening commercial fishing in a vast marine sanctuary.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at reopening a vast marine sanctuary in the central Pacific Ocean to commercial fishing—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups, AFP reports via Agerpres.
The sanctuary in question, known as the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, spans over 1.2 million square kilometers—twice the size of Texas—and surrounds seven remote Pacific islands. It is home to one of the most pristine and ecologically vulnerable marine ecosystems in the world.
The protected area was originally established in 2009 by President George W. Bush and significantly expanded in 2014 by President Barack Obama. Under current regulations, commercial fishing and resource extraction, including mining, are prohibited. However, traditional and recreational fishing has remained allowed.
Trump defended his decision by arguing that the commercial fishing ban put American fishermen at a disadvantage.
“The ban disadvantaged honest U.S. commercial fishermen,” he said, claiming that they were being pushed farther into international waters to compete with “poorly regulated and heavily subsidized foreign fleets.”
Trump further asserted that “properly managed commercial fishing would not endanger objects of scientific and historical interest” protected by the sanctuary.
The Pacific Remote Islands sanctuary is considered one of the most untouched tropical marine environments on Earth. It features thriving coral reef systems and serves as a critical habitat for numerous endangered species, including seabirds, sharks, and whales.
Environmental advocates argue that opening the area to commercial exploitation threatens the biodiversity of a region already vulnerable to the accelerating impacts of climate change.