Restoring American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific

This proclamation modifies Proclamations 8031, 8335, 8337, and 9478 to remove certain monument-based prohibitions on commercial fishing in the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, specified zones and areas seaward of 50 nautical miles within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and waters between 12 and 50 nautical miles surrounding Rose Atoll. Only U.S.-flagged vessels may fish commercially in these monuments, though foreign-flagged vessels may receive permits to transport fish harvested by U.S. fishermen. The Secretary of Commerce is directed to amend or repeal inconsistent regulations and to assess whether enforcement discretion can be used in the interim. It also modifies Proclamation 10918 to clarify that the proclamation itself removes fishing prohibitions in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

Commercial fishing vessel operators (U.S. and foreign-flagged) to Commercial fishing within the boundaries of the affected monuments is limited to United States flagged vessels; foreign-flagged vessels must obtain permits to transport fish harvested by United States fishermen (unclear). Commercial fishing operators to Commercial fishing conducted in monument areas where fishing was previously prohibited must comply with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and applicable fishery management plans (unclear).

No known legal challenges.