Action Alert: On June 11, 2026, the President issued a Proclamation that removes certain prohibitions on commercial fishing in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Monument). However, before commercial fishing can proceed, regulatory agencies must adhere to policies and procedures to set applicable fishing regulations in the Monument. These procedures often require public comment periods before final decisions can be made. As a result, there is still an opportunity for you to influence commercial fishing regulations in the Monument and to have your voice heard. FOMA will monitor the development of these regulations and keep our followers informed. FOMA is opposed to commercial fishing in the Monument.
The Proclamation can be found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/restoring-american-commercial-fishing-in-the-pacific/
Issue/Concern: The above Proclamation removes certain Monument-based prohibitions on commercial fishing in: (a) the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument; (b) the Mau Zone and Ho’omalu Zone and areas seaward of 50 nautical miles within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (where Midway Atoll resides); and (c) waters between 12 and 50 nautical miles surrounding Rose Atoll, consistent with applicable fishery management plans and implementing regulations.
The Proclamation does not remove existing commercial fishing restrictions within 50 nautical miles of the center geographical positions of certain islands, such as Midway Atoll, and reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. However, the Proclamation states “Such restrictions may be modified pursuant to applicable statutory and regulatory processes.”
Commercial fishing in areas of national monuments where such fishing was previously prohibited shall remain subject to all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Therefore, the Secretary of Commerce, through NOAA, “shall amend or repeal existing regulations that are inconsistent with this proclamation’s removal of monument-based prohibitions on commercial fishing, including those within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Sanctuary regulations. I (President Trump) further direct that the Secretary of Commerce shall assess whether discretion to enforce regulations that currently prohibit commercial fishing can be utilized in the interim to advance the policy outlined in this proclamation.”
FOMA’s Advocacy: FOMA previously provided comments in opposition to this proposed action as FOMA believes commercial fishing in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument would have adverse effects on the marine ecosystem which is vital to Midway Atoll and the other Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. FOMA’s letter of October 1, 2025, provides more details on the potential impacts.
Because the Proclamation requires adherence to regulatory mechanisms (see italics above) before commercial fishing can commence, the public may have the ability to comment on such regulatory processes. Of particular note is the last statement in italics above which encourages the Secretary of Commerce to assess whether discretion to enforce current regulations prohibiting commercial fishing in the Monument can be “utilized.” FOMA interprets “discretion to enforce regulations” to mean that the Secretary of Commerce would not pursue actions against commercial fishing operations in the Monument and thus would tacitly allow commercial fishing where it is currently prohibited. FOMA will continue to monitor the implementation of this Proclamation and, when applicable, will provide comments on proposed regulations to implement the Proclamation.
What you can do:
- Contact your Congressional representatives (use Congress.gov and type in your address) as well as Sate of Hawai’i representatives (https://portal.ehawaii.gov/government/state-officials/) to share your concerns.
- Write a letter to the Secretary of Commerce, the Honorable Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce at TheSec@doc.gov; 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20230
- Or call (202) 482-2112 to encourage the Secretary to not use discretion in the enforcement of current regulations in the Monument and, furthermore, to follow the normal regulatory process, including public notice and comment, when proposing changes to commercial fishing regulations in the Monument as directed to by this Proclamation.
- Send a copy of your letter to the Secretary of Commerce to Ms. Malloy, Regional Administrator, NOAA – Pacific Islands Regional Office at sarah.malloy@noaa.gov
- Or call (808) 725-5000.