As an oceanographer, I find the Trump administration’s recent proclamation to permit commercial fishing within the Papahānaumokuākea, Mariana Trench, and Rose Atoll Marine National Monuments to be scientifically indefensible.

We are currently observing unprecedented thermal anomalies; sea surface temperatures are hovering near all-time records, exacerbating coral bleaching and disrupting trophic cascades. These monuments serve as vital 'pu‘uhonua'—refugia that facilitate genetic diversity and provide a baseline for ecosystem resilience against anthropogenic climate change. Reintroducing extractive commercial practices into these highly sensitive pelagic and benthic habitats is not merely a policy shift; it is a fundamental assault on decades of peer-reviewed conservation strategy.

Bycatch and derelict fishing gear already pose existential threats to the Hawaiian monk seal and various cheloniidae. To prioritize short-term commercial yields over the integrity of one of the world’s last predator-dominated coral reef ecosystems is a rejection of empirical evidence. We cannot claim to manage our oceans responsibly while dismantling the very sanctuaries that ensure their survival. Conservation is not a partisan luxury; it is a biological necessity.