Kilili responds to Pacific Marine Monument expansion

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Ind-MP), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Oceans, Wildlife, and Insular Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s executive order, expanding the boundaries of certain areas of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The President signed the order Thursday in New York.

After receiving extensive public input and comment from stakeholders, the President has kept open the waters most used by commercial fishing, including the areas around Howland Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Kingman Reef. The boundaries of other areas within the Monument, including Wake Island, the Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll, will be expanded out to the limits of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and closed to commercial fishing and other resource extraction, such as deep sea mining. Traditional and recreational uses will be allowed to continue within the new boundaries.

Sablan’s statement:

“I applaud President Obama’s decision to sign an executive order expanding the boundaries of certain areas of Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

“The oceans are a source of life for the people of the Northern Mariana Islands and for islanders throughout the Pacific. Protecting some areas of the Pacific Ocean from modern commercial activities, while allowing traditional uses to continue, protects the culture and heritage of island people. This is a policy already undertaken by the Republic of Palau and the Republic of Kiribati, and it is appropriate for the United States, as a Pacific nation as well, to be a leader in conserving our ocean resources.

“I also applaud the President for the method by which he came to today’s decision. He asked for input from the public and received tens of thousands of comments and recommendations. Clearly, by keeping open for commercial fishing the areas most important for operators in Hawaii and American Samoa, the President has demonstrated that he listens and takes into consideration the interests of a wide range of stakeholders.

“I know there was concern in the Northern Marianas that today’s executive order might affect the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. But White House officials informed me that there was never an intention to expand the Marianas Trench Monument that former Republican President George Bush negotiated with former governor Benigno Fitial in the final hours of the Bush administration.

“Anyone concerned about future presidential actions to create or enlarge Monuments should be reassured by the way that President Obama has consulted with those who may be affected before taking action. And I certainly hope that future Presidents will use President Obama as a model for the appropriate way to exercise the considerable power that the Antiquities Act gives to our chief executive.” (Office of the Delegate)