HONOLULU — A federal judge in Hawaii has supported environmental advocates by ordering a halt to commercial fishing in a vast area of the Pacific Ocean, a move that challenges an earlier decision made under the Trump administration to roll back ocean protections.
The ruling affects the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, a designated area that shelters various marine species such as turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Environmental organizations argue that longline fishing, which uses baited hooks on lines stretching up to 60 miles, poses a significant threat to these vulnerable species.
In 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order easing restrictions on commercial fishing within the monument, a move criticized for circumventing necessary public comment and regulatory procedures. Environmental groups subsequently filed a lawsuit to contest the decision, claiming it eroded crucial protections for the marine monument.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Micah W. J. Smith ruled in favor of the environmentalists. His decision requires fishing vessels to stop commercial operations in waters bounded by 50 to 200 nautical miles around Johnston Atoll, Jarvis Island, and Wake Island, as reported by Earthjustice, the legal firm representing the plaintiffs.
The Department of Justice, representing the federal government, did not respond immediately to requests for comment regarding the ruling. Following the issuance of Trump’s order, the National Marine Fisheries Service notified fishing permit holders that they could begin commercial fishing within the monument’s confines, prompting fishing activities to resume shortly thereafter.
Government attorneys stated that the notification merely updated fishers about a regulatory change instigated by the executive order. However, Judge Smith’s ruling indicates that the government failed to substantiate its defense and dismissed other arguments related to jurisdiction and standing.
David Henkin, an attorney with Earthjustice, asserted that the court’s decision compels the government to establish a comprehensive framework to evaluate fishing practices within the monument to protect the ecosystem effectively.
Members of Hawaii’s longline fishing industry maintain that they have implemented various measures, such as the use of circle hooks, to minimize their impact on marine life. However, the lawsuit contends that unrestricted commercial fishing would negatively affect the cultural, spiritual, and subsistence needs of Native Hawaiians, who are historically linked to the region.
This ruling underscores ongoing tensions between environmental protection efforts and commercial interests, as various stakeholders seek to balance ecological health with economic activity in the Pacific.
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