Off the hook

HERITAGE ZONE PROTECTED FROM FISHING ONCE MORE

A federal judge has re-banned commercial fishing in a sensitive area of the Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii home to diverse coral reefs, migratory fish such as tuna and sharks, threatened and endangered species like the coconut crab, green and hawksbill turtles, seabirds, landbirds, vegetation and insects and other vulnerable species that thrive in the area.

'The Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument', a protected and fragile ecosystem of nearly 500,000 square miles, with ecological, cultural and historical value, was established in 2009 by President George W. Bush, expanded in 2014 by President Barack Obama and was due to have its boundaries further widened and be designated as a national marine sanctuary by President Joe Biden before he came to the end of his term.

But in April, in a reversal of global momentum to preserve the oceans and key biodiversity hotspots in the face of climate collapse, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to open up the world heritage site to commercial fishing!

The news met with strong opposition and the court issued their recent decision after hearing arguments in the case from Earthjustice on behalf of Kapa'a, the Conservation Council for Hawaii and the Centre for Biological Diversity.

The new ruling, on Friday 8th August 2025, from Judge Micah Smith of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii in Honolulu said the Trump administration's unilateral decision to open a large swath of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument violated the Administrative Procedure Act by forgoing public comments or hearings.

"The court forcefully rejected the Trump administration's outrageous claim that it can dismantle vital protections for the monument's unique and vulnerable species and ecosystems without involving the public," said Earthjustice attorney David Henkin.

The court order means that commercial fishing cannot occur in waters 50 to 200 nautical miles around Johnson and Wake Atolls and Jarvis Island, home to irreplaceable ecosystems, marine mammals, seabirds and coral reefs, and must stop immediately.

NB The UK Government is considering a ban on the hugely destructive process of bottom trawling in 41 offshore Marine Protected Areas in England. Heavy chains are dragged across the seabed bulldozing and destroying marine life and capturing and discarding many sea creatures in the process of catching just one or two fish species. The Wildlife Trusts need your help to ensure a ban is implemented effectively. Please take part by clicking HERE.