Executive Proclamation Restores Commercial Fishing in Pacific Marine Monuments, Unlocks Economic Opportunity
News release from NOAA, June 11, 2026
On June 11, 2026, President Trump signed an "Executive Proclamation Restoring American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific," opening additional prized fishing grounds to hard-working American fishermen and United States flagged fishing vessels. This bold Executive action opens more economic opportunities for commercial fishermen and continues to strengthen the economic security of coastal communities.
NOAA is proud to support the Administration’s pledge to restore U.S. seafood competitiveness through the America First Fishing Policy. The President’s Executive Proclamation comes as a direct result of feedback from the U.S. fishing industry, and his action will continue to increase economic opportunities for American fishermen.
“President Trump is once again delivering for American fishermen by opening prized Pacific fishing grounds with this Executive Proclamation,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “By restoring commercial fishing in the remote Pacific, we are creating new economic opportunity for coastal communities and restoring U.S. seafood competitiveness.”
Previous prohibitions on commercial fishing in the Pacific Ocean forced American commercial fishermen further offshore into international waters to compete against poorly regulated foreign fishing fleets. Restoring access to these valuable fishing grounds within the U.S. exclusive economic zone will give diligent and honest American fishermen closer access to tuna and other pelagic species.
“Restoring commercial fishing access to these vital areas reflects the continued commitment of this Administration to American fisheries, which are built on the foundation of rigorous science, robust monitoring, strong enforcement, and the daily commitment of our dedicated fishermen,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “This historic action will lead to more U.S.-caught fish on American tables.”
This Proclamation recognizes the effectiveness and strength of U.S. fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This year the Act commemorates 50 years of continued science-based fisheries management. American fishermen are responsible stewards of our ocean resources, working to ensure the long-term health of fish stocks and marine ecosystems and maintaining a nutritious, sustainable food source for Americans.
The expanded fishing grounds for American fishermen in the Pacific restored through this Executive Proclamation include:
- The Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument
- The Mau Zone and Ho‘omalu Zone and areas seaward of 50 nautical miles within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
- Waters between 12 and 50 nautical miles surrounding Rose Atoll within the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument
The announcement comes amid a series of actions taken by the Trump Administration to support commercial fisheries in an ongoing effort to restore America’s seafood competitiveness. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and its partners will continue balancing the responsible management of the Pacific Islands marine national monuments ecosystems with the engagement of commercial fisheries, including coordination with the regional fishery management councils.
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Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific
The White House, June 11, 2026
UNLEASHING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE PACIFIC: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation to restore commercial fishing access to nearly half a million square miles in the Pacific, advancing the America First Fishing Policy.
The proclamation restores commercial fishing access to the Mau and Ho‘omalu Zones of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.
PUTTING AMERICA FIRST IN SEAFOOD COMPETITIVENESS: President Trump is committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on American fishermen in order to enhance U.S. domestic seafood production and lower seafood prices, support American jobs, and promote food and national security.
Onerous restrictions unnecessarily prohibited commercial fishing within areas of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument, removing job opportunities for American workers.
Prohibiting commercial fishing is not necessary for the proper care and management of these Monuments, as many fish species are highly migratory, not unique to the area, and are already protected through existing laws, such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Prohibiting commercial fishing in this area also artificially restricts domestic fish supply, which makes the United States reliant on foreign sources for our food supply and increases the cost of seafood for everyday Americans.
The proclamation opens economic and job opportunities for U.S. fishing families, coastal communities, seafood processors, and related maritime industries, ensuring unfettered access to the coastal waters of the U.S. while maintaining rigorous environmental protections.
Commercial fishing supports thousands of American jobs across the harvesting, processing, transportation, shipbuilding, equipment manufacturing, distribution, sales, and service industries.
The proclamation strengthens the domestic seafood supply chain and reduces U.S. dependence on imported seafood.
DELIVERING HISTORIC CHANGE FOR DOMESTIC FISHERIES: The proclamation builds on President Trump’s commitment to revitalize the U.S. fishing industry, delivering historic economic growth and regulatory relief and prioritizing American seafood producers.
In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order restoring seafood competitiveness through deregulation, combating unfair trade practices, enhancing domestic seafood production and exports, cooperative research, and creation of the America First Seafood Strategy.
In April 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation to restore commercial fishing access in the Pacific Ocean, opening the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
In February 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation to unleash commercial fishing access in the Atlantic Ocean, opening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
Through the strategic use of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and executive action, NOAA has successfully deregulated fishing operations, reversed decades-old closures, and maximized harvest quotas.
NOAA expedited the openings of fisheries and increased catch limits based on the best available science, delivering financial returns to coastal communities.
NOAA continues to aggressively slash red tape and replace outdated, micromanaged restrictions with adaptive, flexible standards – maximizing profitability for the domestic fleet and keeping fisheries open.
These actions have unlocked billions of dollars in economic value and secured vital domestic supply chains.
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RESTORING AMERICAN COMMERCIAL FISHING IN THE PACIFIC
from The White House, June 11, 2026
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Building on prior actions to strengthen American seafood production and support working fishing communities, this proclamation restores access to hundreds of thousands of square miles of Pacific waters for commercial fishing managed under existing Federal law. I have determined that restoring access to responsibly managed fishing grounds will promote economic opportunity while ensuring continued stewardship of our Nation’s marine resources.
On June 15, 2006, pursuant to the Antiquities Act (54 U.S.C. 320301), President Bush issued Proclamation 8031 establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, later renamed the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. On August 26, 2016, President Obama issued Proclamation 9478 expanding that monument.
On January 6, 2009, pursuant to the Antiquities Act, President Bush issued Proclamation 8335 establishing the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument and Proclamation 8337 establishing the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.
These proclamations imposed restrictions on commercial fishing within specified areas of the monuments. Prior to the establishment of these monuments, the marine resources identified in Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 were subject to comprehensive Federal management and conservation authorities, including regulations that managed commercial fishing.
After further consideration of the nature of the objects identified in Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 and the protection of those objects already provided by Federal law, I find that appropriately managed commercial fishing under existing statutory authorities will not put the historic and scientific objects within these areas at risk.
The marine resources identified in Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 are subject to comprehensive Federal management and conservation authorities. For example, the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (Magnuson-Stevens) establishes regional fishery management councils, supervised by the Secretary of Commerce in coordination with the States and affected stakeholders, that develop fishery management plans to regulate our Nation’s fisheries, using the best available science and observing strict conservation and management requirements. Magnuson-Stevens requires a similar process of scientific fisheries management for highly migratory species and provides that fishery management plans may include, among other measures, management measures to conserve target and non-target species and habitats. The monuments at issue in this proclamation fall within the oversight of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), which has developed several comprehensive Fishery Ecosystem Plans that enable sustainable fishing while affording protections tailored to the variety of sensitive ecosystems and marine life which the Council oversees. The Council regularly monitors its fisheries and adapts its plans to afford ongoing protection responsive to the most recent science and ocean conditions.
Additional protections are provided under the following statutes, several of which are effectuated directly through the applicable fishery management plans: the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Oil Pollution Act (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), Title I of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703–712), and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). These statutes provide sufficient enforceable mechanisms to properly manage the monument objects addressed in this proclamation. For example, the Endangered Species Act generally prohibits the taking of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered, and also generally ensures that Federal actions, including fisheries management, are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species. The Marine Mammal Protection Act provides protections for marine mammals, and prohibits their taking, subject to some exceptions.
Therefore, I find that certain monument-based prohibitions on commercial fishing are not necessary at this time for the proper care and management of the monuments or the objects of historic or scientific interest therein.
Proclamation 10918 previously modified the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument by providing, among other things, that the Secretary of Commerce shall not prohibit commercial fishing within specified Monument and Monument Expansion areas. Proclamation 10918 is modified to clarify that the proclamation itself removes monument-based prohibitions on commercial fishing and agency rulemaking is intended to amend or repeal inconsistent regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim that Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 are modified to remove 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; and (c) waters between 12 and 50 nautical miles surrounding Rose Atoll, consistent with applicable fishery management plans and implementing regulations. Only United States flagged vessels shall be allowed to fish commercially within the boundaries of these monuments, except that permits may be issued to foreign flagged vessels to transport fish harvested by United States fishermen.
Nothing in this proclamation alters existing restrictions applicable within 50 nautical miles of the center geographical positions of certain islands and reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or within 12 nautical miles of Rose Atoll. Such restrictions may be modified pursuant to applicable statutory and regulatory processes.
Commercial fishing conducted in areas of national monuments where such fishing was prohibited under previous proclamations shall remain subject to all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including under Magnuson-Stevens. The Secretary of Commerce 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 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.
To the extent that any provision of Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, 9478, or 10918 is inconsistent with this proclamation, the terms of this proclamation shall govern.
If any provision of this proclamation is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation shall not be affected thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
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CB: The executive order also lifts most commercial fishing restrictions at two other Pacific U.S. marine monuments: Rose Atoll and the Marianas Trench.
HNN: Trump restores commercial fishing access in Pacific marine monuments
NW: Trump opens half a million square miles of protected ocean to fishing
B: Trump opens protected Pacific waters to commercial fishing