On April 17, 2025 the ban on commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (PIHMNM) was lifted via an Executive Order signed by President Trump. The President’s authority to implement this action is in question. To be clear a commercial fishing industry can now reap the profits from fishing in once protected waters within an extraordinary area of the Pacific that is a federally protected Marine National Monument which sustains life as we know it for wildlife and people. Watch this very short video. For more in depth information read the April 2025 Civil Beat article.
On February 28, 2025 a U.S. military document identified Elon Musk’s SpaceX as a potential defense contractor for a project that will construct and operate rocket cargo landing pads at Kalama (Johnston Atoll)–one of seven National Wildlife Refuges within PIHMNM.
What can you do about it?
FIRST: Visit Pacific Islands Heritage Coalition and connect to the Hawai'i Conservation Alliance Foundation.
SECOND: In 5 seconds you can SIGN this PETITION to Stop the US Military Cargo Rocket Testing.
THIRD: Please make sure your membership with the Friends of Midway Atoll is active! Gifting funds to other non-profit organizations better positioned to immediately protect or advocate directly to protect Midway's wildlife is something we have and will continue to do!
What do these actions have to do with Midway Atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument?
The islands and waters of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) within Papahānaumokuākea MNM have a co-dependent ecosystem and cultural relationship with the PIHMNM and yes, this is where millions of seabirds feed on prey pushed to the surface by schools of large predatory tuna that live there. Papahānaumokuākea MNM and PIHMNM were established in 2006 and 2009 respectively by President George W. Bush. Studies have shown these protected waters are now providing an impressive stock fishery for the Hawai‘i-based longline industry that is catching more fish, while the distance the fleet travels has remained unchanged. In other words, fish know no boundaries.
Please Note: YOU are the constituents that can speak for uninhabited and unincorporated territories with no direct congressional representation, as is the case with Midway Atoll and PIHMNM, while federal agency staff responsible for managing these areas have been muzzled
The non-profit Friends of Midway Atoll need you now more than ever.
Join us and become a part of doing what we can do to stop the profit driven extraction and imminent threats to wildlife in one of the last great marine wildernesses in the largest body of islands and water on planet earth.
Mahalo (thank you) for your caring support over the years.
Now is our time to voyage together.
Shop
Donate
Subscribe