Court blocks fishing in Pacific Islands monument

A Hawaii federal court upholds the fishing ban in the Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument, overturning a 2020 rollback attempt.

Court blocks fishing in Pacific Islands monument

A federal court in Hawaii ruled that commercial fishing remains illegal in the Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument, a federally protected area in the central Pacific. Judge Micah WJ Smith overturned an April NMFS letter that allowed fishing in portions of the monument, a change tied to President Trump’s efforts to roll back protections. The decision keeps the fishing ban in effect for waters around Johnston Atoll, Jarvis Island, and Wake Island, and emphasizes that operators cannot rely on the earlier letter as ongoing rulemaking.

Earthjustice, representing conservation groups, argued that NMFS bypassed the formal public notice and comment process required to change fishing rules. The court sided with those concerns, noting that changes affecting protected areas must go through proper channels. The monument itself spans hundreds of thousands of square miles in the remote central Pacific and is managed by multiple agencies. Indigenous Pacific Islanders and researchers have long highlighted the area’s ecological and cultural value, making the case about more than fish alone.

The ruling frames conservation as a legal process, not a political move. It underscores the danger of unilateral policy shifts that skip public input and local expertise, which can erode trust in federal protections. By insisting on formal processes, the court sets a precedent that future administrations must follow the rules when altering protections for critical ecosystems.

For Indigenous communities, scientists, and long-time conservationists, the decision reinforces the idea that protecting fragile oceans requires durable commitments and meaningful involvement of those most connected to the land and sea. For commercial fishers and opponents of restrictions, the ruling highlights the continuing friction between economic activity and preservation that will likely shape debates around public lands and waters in the years ahead.

Highlights

The ocean tests the balance between stewardship and industry, and the law keeps the scales in view.