PACIFIC ISLANDS FISHERY NEWS Newsletter of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council / Spring 2025 ISSN 2151-2329 (PRINT) ISSN 2151-2337 (ONLINE)
A U.S. longline fishing vessel, the F/V Kawaiola, based out of Hawai‘i in transit to fishing grounds beyond 50 nm from islands within U.S. jurisdiction in the Pacific. Photo: Caleb McMahan.
Balancing Ocean Access and Conservation: What the Presidential Proclamation Really Means for the Western Pacific American Samoa delegates provided a song of thanks while President Donald Trump signed a Proclamation in the Oval Office April 17, 2025, saying, “it is an honor” and that “we are giving you back your lives.” The proclamation removed commercial fishing prohibitions in waters from 50 to 200 nautical miles (nm) in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Johnston Atoll, Jarvis and Wake Islands. These waters were previously closed to commercial fishing through the designation of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (PIHMNM).
Still image from video of President Trump signing the proclamation titled Unleashing American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific, April 17, 2025. (l-r) American Samoa Congresswoman Uifa‘atali Amata, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Council Executive Director Seuta‘atia Kitty Simonds and Council Vice Chair Taotasi Archie Soliai with President Trump. Source: Video by Margo Martin, White House Special Assistant, (@margomartin47 on X)
The proclamation has raised questions and concerns about the future of the PIHMNM, particularly regarding commercial fishing, endangered species protection and ecosystem impacts. Despite some public confusion, the Presidential Proclamation does not change the boundaries of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) or the core conservation zones within the PIHMNM. Fishing continues to be prohibited from 0 to 50 nm around Wake, Jarvis, Howland and Baker Islands, Palmyra and Johnston Atolls, and Kingman Reef—where coral reefs, seabird nesting areas and turtle habitats are found. What has changed is the reopening of waters in the U.S. EEZ between 50 and 200 nm around Wake, Johnston and Jarvis Islands to U.S.-permitted commercial vessels, primarily the Hawai‘i longline and American Samoa purse seine fleets. These areas are thousands of meters deep—often deeper than 3,800 m (12,467 feet)— CONTINUED ON PAGE 2