March 27, 2026 — After hearing roughly 70 public comments, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC) has taken final action to restore commercial fishing access across several U.S. Pacific marine national monuments– marking a significant shift for fleets that have operated under long-standing closures.
The Council voted at its 206th meeting to recommend reopening portions of the Pacific Islands Heritage, Rose Atoll, Marinas Trench, and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monuments to federally managed commercial fisheries.
“This is not about removing monument protections – it’s about restoring sustainable fishing in limited areas under fishery regulations the Council has developed over decades,” said Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds. “Those regulations were built to balance access and conservation, and that remains the Council’s guiding principle under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.”