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Protect Endangered Wildlife From Industrial Greed In The Pacific

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Sponsor: Free The Ocean

A vast Pacific sanctuary has been opened to industrial fishing—threatening endangered species, Indigenous heritage, and a vital ocean refuge that once belonged to all of us.

Protect Endangered Wildlife From Industrial Greed In The Pacific

A vast stretch of Pacific Ocean once protected for its rare wildlife and deep cultural significance is now open to commercial fishing. Nearly 500,000 square miles southwest of Hawai‘i—part of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument—has been stripped of its safeguards by executive order, exposing fragile ecosystems to longliners and trawlers1.

Life at Risk Below the Surface

These waters shelter endangered sea turtles, nesting seabirds, whales, and some of the most pristine coral reefs left on the planet2. They are also sacred to Indigenous Pacific Islanders, who have long honored them as ancestral ocean highways3. Removing protections for the sake of short-term industry gains is a direct threat to both biodiversity and cultural survival.

The Economic Argument Doesn’t Hold Water

Despite claims that lifting the ban would benefit American Samoa’s fishing economy, federal data shows that U.S. fleets spent less than 1% of their time in these waters before they were protected4. Local leaders have been misled to believe this decision will solve their economic hardships, while the truth is that decades of research show fully protected marine reserves actually increase fish stocks in surrounding areas, boosting long-term sustainability5.

Once Lost, These Ecosystems Don’t Come Back

Opening these waters is not a fix. It’s a risk. Once these ecosystems collapse, we can’t bring them back. This isn’t just about fish. It’s about honoring commitments to ocean conservation, respecting Indigenous heritage, and protecting what’s left of the wild. The Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument was created because of its unique value to all life on Earth. Its destruction would be permanent.

Take Action Before It’s Too Late

We must act now. Sign the petition calling on the President, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, and the NOAA Administrator to immediately reinstate the fishing ban and restore protections to the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument.

MORE ON THIS ISSUE:

  1. Sam Mauhay-Moore, SFGate (17 Apr 2025), "Trump signs executive order ending years of protections in Pacific monument."
  2. Nolan Stout, Courthouse News (18 Jul 2023), "American Samoans fear tuna fishing limits in Pacific Ocean sanctuary could threaten their livelihood."
  3. NOAA, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (Accessed 21 Apr 2025), "National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa."
  4. Stephen Wright, Radio Free Asia (21 Apr 2025), "US opens Pacific Ocean sanctuary to commercial fishing."
  5. Rebecca Dzombak and Lisa Friedman, The New York Times (17 Apr 2025), "Trump Opens a Huge Marine Protected Zone to Commercial Fishing."

The Petition

To the President of the United States, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Administrator of the National Oceanic, and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

We, the undersigned, urge immediate action to restore protections and permanently ban commercial fishing within the 500,000 square miles of ocean previously safeguarded as part of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument.

This region, southwest of Hawai‘i and including the waters around Palmyra Atoll, Johnston Atoll, and Kingman Reef, is home to endangered sea turtles, migratory whales, vast coral reef systems, and countless other marine species found nowhere else on Earth. Beyond ecological value, these waters hold deep cultural significance for Indigenous Pacific Islander communities, who view them as ancestral highways and sacred spaces.

The recent rollback of fishing protections has put these fragile ecosystems at risk. Opening these remote waters to industrial fleets not only jeopardizes biodiversity but also undermines decades of conservation science showing that large, fully protected marine areas serve as vital sanctuaries. Numerous studies—including research from Stanford and the University of Hawai‘i—demonstrate that marine protected areas boost fish populations and benefit surrounding fisheries through spillover effects.

Claims that the rollback will significantly aid the economy of American Samoa are contradicted by NOAA data and independent studies, which show U.S. fishing fleets spent less than 1% of their time in these protected zones. Meanwhile, the long-term ecological and cultural costs of reopening these waters are immense and irreversible.

We call on your offices to reestablish fishing prohibitions within the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, initiate stronger long-term protections under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and uphold your responsibility to safeguard our public oceans for future generations.

Sincerely,

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