March 29, 2023 — THE expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument was discussed during a forum conducted by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council or WPRFMC at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on March 27 and 28, 2023.
Community members who attended the forum said they are opposed to the expansion of the national monument whose area consists of approximately 495,189 square miles in the central Pacific Ocean.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Remote Islands Coalition has been proposing to extend the monument to 200 miles from 50 miles around two sets of islands.