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RESTORING AMERICAN COMMERCIAL FISHING IN THE PACIFIC
Proclamations
June 11, 2026

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Building on prior actions to strengthen American seafood production and support working fishing communities, this proclamation restores access to hundreds of thousands of square miles of Pacific waters for commercial fishing managed under existing Federal law.  I have determined that restoring access to responsibly managed fishing grounds will promote economic opportunity while ensuring continued stewardship of our Nation’s marine resources.

On June 15, 2006, pursuant to the Antiquities Act (54 U.S.C. 320301), President Bush issued Proclamation 8031 establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, later renamed the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.  On August 26, 2016, President Obama issued Proclamation 9478 expanding that monument.

On January 6, 2009, pursuant to the Antiquities Act, President Bush issued Proclamation 8335 establishing the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument and Proclamation 8337 establishing the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.

These proclamations imposed restrictions on commercial fishing within specified areas of the monuments.  Prior to the establishment of these monuments, the marine resources identified in Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 were subject to comprehensive Federal management and conservation authorities, including regulations that managed commercial fishing.

After further consideration of the nature of the objects identified in Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 and the protection of those objects already provided by Federal law, I find that appropriately managed commercial fishing under existing statutory authorities will not put the historic and scientific objects within these areas at risk.

The marine resources identified in Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 are subject to comprehensive Federal management and conservation authorities.  For example, the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (Magnuson-Stevens) establishes regional fishery management councils, supervised by the Secretary of Commerce in coordination with the States and affected stakeholders, that develop fishery management plans to regulate our Nation’s fisheries, using the best available science and observing strict conservation and management requirements.  Magnuson-Stevens requires a similar process of scientific fisheries management for highly migratory species and provides that fishery management plans may include, among other measures, management measures to conserve target and non-target species and habitats.  The monuments at issue in this proclamation fall within the oversight of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), which has developed several comprehensive Fishery Ecosystem Plans that enable sustainable fishing while affording protections tailored to the variety of sensitive ecosystems and marine life which the Council oversees.  The Council regularly monitors its fisheries and adapts its plans to afford ongoing protection responsive to the most recent science and ocean conditions.
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