Hawaiian Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Inaugurated by Obama

The four-fold boost in territory will cover an area with more than 7,000 marine species, including a coral that is the world’s oldest-known living organism at 4,265 years old.

From now on, all forms commercial activities, including large scale fishing and deep-sea mining are banned in the newly expanded protected area.

The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, first named a national monument by President George W. Bush in 2006, is a massively important marine nature reserve. Granting this protection had special meaning for the president because Hawaii is where he was born and spent many of childhood years. Sean Martin, president of the Hawaii longline fishery, said he was disappointed by the decision of the governor of Hawaii, David Ige, to support this action, condemning that it is based on political and not scientific reasons. Recreational fishing will be allowed through a permit, as will be scientific research and the removal of fish and other resources for Native Hawaiian cultural practices. “Quite a legacy indeed”, he added. In an interview, Kaho’ohalahala explained that Papahānaumokuākea, considered a sacred place, figures large in the creation myths of his people.

Interior Department officials worked with Native Hawaiians, state and local officials, community leaders, fishermen and others to come up with a proposal to stretch the boundaries of the marine monument to 582,578 square miles.

He hopped to Midway from Honolulu on a smaller version of Air Force One, landing on an airstrip that gained prominence when the Battle of Midway became a turning point in World War II. It is vital that we take steps like President Obama did in Hawaii to prevent future expansion of industrial fisheries, but we also need to look at areas closer to our population centers.

He was joined in blasting the president’s decision by Rep. Aumua Amata, R-American Samoa, who said Obama’s continued designation of national monuments without consulting local governments and industry “is irresponsible”. After Midway, Obama planned to open his final trip to Asia on Saturday with a visit to China, a chance to showcase his unlikely partnership with President Xi Jinping on global warming. “Sen. Schatz’s leadership ensures that anglers, America’s original conservationists, will be included as management partners”. It places American Samoa, which “is already the most economically challenged state or territory in the USA, at even greater risk”, the congresswoman said.