Trump Expands U.S. Fishing Access by Opening Pacific Ocean Monuments

Trump issued a proclamation reopening most of Papahānaumokuākea, Rose Atoll, and the Marianas Trench to commercial fishing—allowing access in the Papahānaumokuākea region 50–200 miles offshore while preserving the core protected area—and saying the change will be shaped by federal rulemaking and science-based management. Environmental groups plan legal challenges, arguing the move oversteps authority and harms biodiversity; supporters say it boosts domestic seafood supply and will be managed by fisheries councils and enforcement.