Quick Breakdown of the Pacific Fishing Proclamation

President Trump’s proclamation modifies prior monument restrictions to allow commercial fishing in certain Pacific waters, including the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. This does not mean fishing is unregulated, though. Commercial fishing in these areas would still be subject to existing federal laws and management systems, including the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council process, and protections for endangered species, marine mammals, habitats, and other ocean resources. For the CNMI, this proclamation raises both opportunity and responsibility. If American fishing activity increases in waters near our region, we should be looking at how that activity can connect to local jobs, port services, fuel, cold storage, vessel support, seafood handling, and long-term food security. At the same time, implementation needs to be careful, transparent, grounded in science, and include the people who live closest to these waters. Local fishermen, the Commonwealth government, federal partners, scientists, environmental stakeholders, and the broader CNMI community should have a meaningful voice as this moves forward.