Hawaiian Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Inaugurated by Obama

World News Rudolph Rodriquez
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Celebrating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, Barack Obama just inaugurated the world’s largest natural reservation in Hawaii, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

The Marine Protected Area is 1.5 million square kilometers, almost two times the size of the US state of Texas.

This decision prohibits commercial fishing and any new mining projects. Recreational fishing will be allowed as well as the scientific research, but also the use of fish and other resources used in local Hawaiian cultural practices.

Fishing groups declared their concern regarding the damage to the fishing industry. Sean Martin, president of the Hawaii longline fishery, said he was disappointed by the decision of the governor of Hawaii, David Ige, to support this action, condemning that it is based on political and not scientific reasons.

Longline boats fishing gear supply a large quantity of fresh tuna and other fish that is consumed in Hawaii. Martin previously estimated that there is around 900,000 kg of fish caught annually from the marine area that is included in the expansion of the Marine National Reserve.

According to the White House, the expansion of the reserve would help protect more than 7,000 marine species and improve the recovery of an ecosystem that is facing ocean acidification and global warming.

The extended area is considered sacred by the Hawaiians and represents the Democrat Senator Brian Shatz’s and important leaders of indigenous Hawaiians’ proposal.

With all the pollution and destruction happening worldwide, it is good to see that there are still actions trying to preserve what mother nature gave us.